This is a press release courtesy of the Hillboro Police Department.

A Cornelius realtor has been arrested and accused of breaking into at least two homes to raid the liquor cabinet and steal petty items, police said.

Michael Troy Messmer, 41, is accused of burglarizing homes in Hillsboro and Cornelius by using his pass code to access real estate "lock boxes," commonly used when realtors show homes on the market while the owner isn't around.
 
Lt. Michael Rouches, spokesman for Hillsboro police, said Messmer was charged with a Feb. 1 break-in of a home in the 3600 block of Northeast 8th Ave. Rouches said the homeowner returned from a business trip and found Messmer in his house, drinking a White Russian.

"It's obvious Messmer had been in his liquor cabinet," Rouches said. "(The homeowner) asks him, 'What are you doing in here?' Messmer says, 'I'm a realtor.' "

Rouches said Messmer is alleged to have left the home and taken a box of material that had been gathered beforehand, containing a Sony PlayStation video game system, perfume and household goods.

In all, the material taken was worth about $260, he said. A woman was also with him.

Days later, Messmer was discovered in a home in Cornelius, said Cmdr. Ed Jensen, of Cornelius police. He is alleged to have taken alcohol and toiletry items such as shaving cream and air freshener.

Jensen said the items taken from the Cornelius home on Feb. 5 were valued at about $250.

"These were rather insignificant items," Jensen said. In both cases, Messmer is accused of having gotten into the homes by using his pass code. A record is made every time a realtor uses their individual code to enter a home on the market.

"He had to know that eventually it was going to give all the information," Jensen said.

Cornelius Police accused Messmer of first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. Messmer was scheduled to be arraigned in Washington County Circuit Court on Tuesday.