Woman, 68, charged with burglarizing neighbor’s home

CRIME & THE COURTS

WARREN — Age was no barrier for a woman who stole thousands of dollars of items from her neighbor, Warren police say.

A burglary charge against CecElia E. Markwell, 68, has been bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury for possible indictment.

On Thursday, Markwell waived a preliminary hearing in Warren Municipal Court on the charge, which carries a possible penalty of 18 months in prison if she’s convicted.

She remains free on bond and is ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Markwell, who walks with a limp, told police last month she broke into the house of her neighbor across the street and stole thousands of dollars worth of televisions, tools, clothes and boxes of ceramic tiles.

Police were called when the victim, a 32-year-old man, came home and saw items from his home in a yard sale taking place at Markwell’s home and demanded to have them back.

The items the victim reported stolen were a 42-inch flat-screen TV valued at $1,000, a 32-inch TV valued at $250, $1,000 in baby clothes, $200 in tools in a toolbox, a power drill, 10 boxes of ceramic tiles and $3,000 in men’s clothes.

A police detective said he doesn’t believe Markwell acted alone, but she was charged because she confessed to the crime.

A neighbor also reported seeing Markwell on the victim’s porch looking through the windows the day before the thefts were reported.

The burglary appears to have occurred after someone smashed a rear window to the victim’s house.