A Kearney woman has been charged with breaking into several parked vehicles throughout several Platte City neighborhoods. Stephanie McKinzie, 19, was charged with the class C felony stealing for the vehicle larcenies.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said charges were filed August 14 following an investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen urged citizens to take precautions against this type of theft by removing valuables from their vehicles and locking them. Sheriff Owen thanked the community for their assistance in the investigation.

According to court documents, between July 20 and August 7, several vehicles were broken into in subdivisions along Running Horse Road and in the Seven Bridges neighborhood.

On August 7, one of the victim’s credit cards was used at a local gas station. Video from the gas station allegedly shows a white female get out of a white Chevrolet Impala with no front plate. The woman allegedly went into the store and used the victim’s credit card to pre-pay for gas.

That same morning, a white Chevrolet Impala was captured on private residence surveillance video in the Seven Bridges subdivision. A person with clothing matching that seen from the gas station video is seen getting out of the vehicle.

McKinzie was arrested on August 9 by Excelsior Springs Police Department in a 2007 white Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant. Several items that had been reported stolen from residents of Platte City neighborhoods were found in the vehicle.

McKinzie is being held in the Platte County jail in lieu of $25,000 cash only bond. She is charged with one count of felony stealing. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.