Direct TV salesman wanted in thefts

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - Georgetown police say a man who used to sell service packages for Direct TV is wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry while going door to door. One homeowner caught him on surveillance camera.

According to Williamson County court documents, Kenneth Murcer, 26, would tell customers he was feeling sick and needed to use their restroom so he could snoop through their belongings.

Jeremy Bender noticed something was wrong when his wife's wedding ring went missing.

"Her mom walked down the hallway and said, 'Oh, by the way there was a Direct TV guy here yesterday,"' said Bender.

Jeremy was not home at the time so he checked the footage on the new surveillance cameras he had just installed. The video showed the salesman walking up and down the hallway to the bathroom looking around and going into bedrooms.

Jeremy says Murcer swiped some of his wife’s jewelry that had been passed down from family members and some sentimental pieces that belonged to his daughter’s mother, who passed away.

Alice Molina says Murcer paid her a visit, too, and promised to cut her cable bill in half.

"He did make you feel at ease," said Molina.

He took two long trips to the bathroom and seemed awfully curious about the jewelry sitting on the dresser.

"He kept looking at everything," said Molina. "Even at one time he tried to open the jewelry box."

When he left, Alice discovered two rings missing along with a gold diamond pin that was attached to one of her husband's coats in the closet.

Georgetown police checked with local pawn shops and found that Murcer had pawned $12,000 worth of jewelry at Cash America on North Lamar Boulevard. All 11 pieces were identified by Bedern and returned to him and his wife.

There are some items that have not been found.

According to Georgetown police, Murcer is in a treatment center in Arizona. He will not face the Williamson County theft charges until he gets out of treatment and is picked up by Arizona Law Enforcement.

A spokesperson for Direct TV said they will not be able to comment on the case until Wednesday.