Burglar arrested when he returns to apologize

Kyana — The Dubois County Sheriff’s Department arrested David N. Hopper, 36, of State Road 62, Dale, when he returned to a home he had just broken into Sunday afternoon.

Police were at the Kyana home taking information from the residents when Hopper returned. He stated he wanted to apologize to the homeowners for breaking into their home.

According to authorities, they were called by the homeowners, Andrew and Cheryl Verkamp, after they discovered Hopper in their bathroom 3 p.m.

The couple told deputies they had been taking a nap when Cheryl heard the doorbell rang but she didn’t get up to answer. A few moments later she heard noises in the home and sent Andrew to investigate. He met Hopper coming out of the home’s bathroom and when he confronted him, Hopper stated he was looking for a neighbor’s home.

After escorting Hopper out of the house, Andrew took down the license plate information from the Toyota Camry he was driving. He called deputies after finding a screen had been removed from a window to the residence.

While a deputy was at the residence taking down information, Hopper returned and when confronted by the deputy, admitted to having been in the home. Hopper stated he was addicted to prescription medication and had intended to steal it from the Verkamp’s residence. He had returned to apologize.

He also admitted he had stopped at several homes in Dubois County but had not entered any.

Deputies found a jar of coins in Hopper’s car after they received consent to search it. Hopper stated he took the jar from a Pike County home that he found unlocked but couldn’t identify where the home was located.

Deputies charged Hopper with B felony burglary and booked him into the Dubois County Security Center.

The sheriff’s department is asking that anyone with information about the theft of the coin jar to call the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department at 482-3522.