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Pair faces 7 counts of auto theft after tips from public lead police to suspects

Posted at 5:36 PM, Oct 02, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-02 19:36:13-04

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Transit Authority police requested the public’s help locating two people suspected in a string of car thefts at UTA Park n Ride lots, and one day after asking for help police announced both suspects had been arrested.

According to information from UTA, the pair are 33-year-old Roger Dale Hatch and 31-year-old Brittany Ann Seal (Bartell).

UTA states they received more than a dozen tips from viewersafter news media aired images of the suspects, and those tips led police to the suspects, who were found in the area of 7200 South and State Street. The pair was arrested by Unified Police Department personnel after they canvassed the area.

UTA states the suspects admitted to seven car thefts at UTA Park n Ride lots, and the pair faces seven counts of auto theft. Hatch has a “criminal history and other felony charges are expected to be filed against the pair,” according to information from UTA.

The suspects were allegedly using shaved keys to steal Honda cars from the late 80s to early 2000 model years, and UTA Police were urging patrons with cars of that type to use a club device to protect their car.  A club device is a mechanical steering wheel lock secured by a key.