Crime and Courts

Would-be smoke shop burglar admits to crime, but has the wrong door

Posted: Mar 18, 2013 4:29 PM by Erin Schattauer
Updated: Mar 18, 2013 4:29 PM

BOZEMAN - A Bozeman man reportedly admitted to trying to break into a downtown Bozeman business to steal smoking pipes, but it turns out he had the wrong door.

At around 12 a.m. Sunday, Bozeman police were called to the Grateful Shed on West Main Street for a report of a person trying to break into the back door of the business.

Brett Beierle, 18, was located across the street. An officer found two screwdrivers, two pliers and a flashlight in his front pocket, according to court documents.

During an interview with the officer, Beierle reportedly admitted that he had used the pliers to take the door handle off the back door of the Grateful Shed, but he couldn't get the door open. Beierle admitted that he was trying to break in to steal glass smoking pipes so he could sell them, court papers state.

Police contacted the owner of the Grateful Shed who said the rear door to the business had not been damaged, but the door of a neighboring business, Winning Weight Loss, was damaged and was determined to be the door Beierle had attempted to break into.

Beierle was charged with attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools.