Suspect in Valley burglaries in custody

A former security guard is scheduled to appear in East Fork Justice Court today in connection with three burglaries that may be related to a rash of break-ins in Gardnerville, Indian Hills, Stateline and Genoa.

Patricia Medel, 46, of Carson City was taken into custody for allegedly burglarizing a Gardnerville restaurant and two attempted break-ins in Genoa.

Medel is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail in the three cases. She appeared in East Fork Justice Court on Monday where she was ordered to return to court today. Tod Young was appointed to represent her.

Investigators believe she may be involved in a series of break-ins that began May 5 in Stateline and had victims in Zephyr Cove, Minden and Gardnerville. All the thefts were linked by a similar mode of entry where someone forced a lock and then entered a strip of shops breaking into each one through doors or walls and taking only cash.

In all 13 separate reports were taken on burglaries, including a break-in at a Topsy Lane restaurant that netted $2,300 cash.

In the three specific instances Medel faces charges on, she appeared on video tape in the early morning hours in Genoa on June 9 at about 2:50 in the morning with a pry bar in her hand.

During the same time period, deputies responded to a burglar alarm at a town business. About an hour later on June 9, a woman was videotaped walking through the parking lot of the Stratton Center toward a Gardnerville restaurant that was broken into.

Deputies identified Medel after a woman matching her description was spotted playing slot machines at a Stateline casino on June 14. Medel was arrested after deputies learned she had a warrant for her arrest out of Reno.

She was the subject of television news reports in April after she was arrested for burglary. According to the Reno Police Department, Medel was videotaped in uniform and driving a marked security company vehicle trying to break into the back of a business. Officers located her and found a cash register drawer in her vehicle along with a .25 caliber pistol.