Beginning on October 19, 2025, several local businesses along South Sixth Street and Hilyard Avenue were burglarized. Deputies from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office responded to each incident and quickly determined the crimes were likely connected.
The businesses impacted include:
• Casey’s Restaurant
• Le Bella Boutique Salon
• But Make It Dirty Soda Bar
• ATR Towing and Recovery
• The Klamath County Fairgrounds
• Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens
Deputies also discovered significant damage to several memorial structures at Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens, which investigators believe may be related to these crimes. In total, more than $29,000 in stolen property and damages were reported.
As the investigation progressed, deputies conducted follow-up at several nearby businesses in search of leads. On October 21, 2025, a deputy contacted management at Black Bear Diner, located across Kane Street from But Make It Dirty Soda Bar, and reviewed security footage from the night of the burglaries.
At approximately 11:00 p.m. on October 19, 2025, the footage showed a black Ford Crown Victoria with distinctive silver rims in the area. The same vehicle had previously been involved in a separate fuel theft case, in which 29-year-old Anthony James Hird of Klamath Falls was identified as the driver.
During that prior contact, deputies noted an orange and black WEN 4800 generator in the back seat of Hird’s vehicle, matching the description of one later reported stolen from But Make It Dirty Soda Bar.
Based on this information, deputies began actively searching for Hird and his vehicle. The black Crown Victoria was soon located unoccupied in Klamath Falls and was towed to a secure Klamath County Sheriff’s Office facility. A search warrant was obtained and executed on October 22, 2025.
During the search, deputies recovered the stolen WEN 4800 generator, matching the serial number reported by the victim. Additional evidence was also seized, including items of clothing consistent with those seen in surveillance footage from other related burglaries.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, deputies located and arrested Anthony James Hird following a short foot pursuit. At approximately 8:53 a.m., a deputy was at Campus Green Mobile Park on Highway 97 in Klamath Falls when Hird fled from contact. Additional deputies responded to assist, and a short time later, Hird was found hiding behind a bush near the eastern edge of the mobile home park.
With assistance from an Oregon State Police Trooper, deputies took Hird into custody without major incident. He was transported to the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation and interview.
Several stolen items have since been returned to their rightful owners.
This remains an active investigation, as some stolen property has yet to be recovered and investigators believe Hird may not have acted alone.
Anyone with information related to these incidents is asked to contact Deputy Cooper Roberts at 541-883-5130 ext. 8118 or croberts@klamathcountyor.gov.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the many local businesses who assisted in this case by providing security footage and information. Your cooperation was vital to solving this case quickly and helping recover stolen property for our community.
