Pair arrested on suspicion of breaking into cars at Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley trailheads

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Two people have been arrested in connection with six vehicle burglaries at trailhead parking areas in Douglas County, four at Lake Tahoe and two in the Carson Valley.

Between May 16 and May 23, 2020, the two suspects, Carolyn Brinkman and Harvis Berry, allegedly broke into cars, stealing cash and credit cards, then using the credit cards immediately at local stores, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO).

Neither the name of the stores or trailheads have been disclosed.

Surveillance was set up at trailheads around the county on Sunday, May 24 by DCSO investigators. Within an hour the two suspects were spotted casing vehicles at the Jacks Valley trailhead parking area. They were followed from Jacks Valley and a traffic stop was initiated when the suspect vehicle entered Carson City. A search warrant was executed on the suspect’s vehicle and investigators located a set of sophisticated vehicle burglary tools and over $6,000 in gift cards.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) investigators also obtained videos of the suspects using the credit cards during a number of the transactions.

Brinkman and Berry were arrested and are currently charged with four counts of vehicle burglary and four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and bail has been set at $112,000 each.

Carolyn Brinkman is a 33-year-old female who lists an address in Newark, California and Harvis Berry, 35, lists an address in Elk Gove, Calif.