Burglary suspect caught with pack full of goods

A 24-year-old Evergreen man was arrested early Wednesday morning after he was found inside Kmart wearing a ski mask and carrying a backpack filled with stolen electronics, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

Aleksey Sergeyevi Gritsenko likely will face a felony burglary charge after allegedly using a large rock to break a window on the northwest corner of the Evergreen business at about 12:45 a.m.

Sheriff Chuck Curry said deputies who rushed to the scene after the store’s burglar alarm was activated found Gritsenko in the sporting goods department.

An investigation and interview with Gritsenko led deputies to believe Gritsenko used a tool from the hardware department to break a glass case and steal nine Sony PSP gaming devices.

“He also took the ski mask from inside the store,” Curry said.

Gritsenko was arrested without resistance and booked into the Flathead County Detention Center.

Curry said the crime is likely unrelated to an August 2010 burglary. In that incident, an unknown man stole prescription medications from Kmart’s pharmacy after locking himself in the business overnight.

“But, certainly, we’ll still look at that,” Curry said.

Charges had not been filed in Flathead County District Court as of Wednesday afternoon.