Bedford Police are calling him the Grinch — a handyman who broke into his neighbor's house to steal a shotgun that he later traded for drugs.
Karen, who asked that we not use her last name, went out of town over Christmas weekend to visit family, letting a few of her close friends and neighbors know. Little did she know that one of them would come back and violate her security.
“This guy did not do anything bad to my house, it was like the friendliest robber in the world,” Karen said.
Police said Mark Krinjeck busted in Karen’s door and stole her shotgun and then traded it for drugs. SWAT officers served a search warrant at the home where the deal went down and found three jars of marijuana, heroin, and drug paraphernalia.
Bedford Police Chief Deputy Rick Suts said it’s a reminder that addicts will go to great lengths to get a fix.
“Guns for drugs, stereos for drugs. People that are on heroin, they’ll steal anything they can get their hands on. And the dope dealers are more than happy, if it’s worth something, to trade,” Suts said.
For Karen, it is a reminder to be careful who you trust.
“I trusted him completely. But who knows what goes on behind closed doors with people? They have their demons,” she said, adding that she would have given him money if he had only asked.
Karen said Krinjeck was the neighborhood "handyman," painting her home and doing other odd jobs.
“I feel sorry for him, I feel sorry for his family. But at the same time, I’m kind of mad he busted in my door," Karen said.
"He was here visiting, he could’ve just asked me for $20 and I would’ve said 'next time it snows, shovel the driveway,'" Karen said. "I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. He didn’t have to do that.”
Krinjeck was charged with burglary.
