ELKHART — An Elkhart County woman has been arrested on suspicions she burglarized multiple rural Amish homes this summer in western LaGrange County.

The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division arrested Marylou Ann Richards, 34, for stealing cash, checks and credit cards. The burglaries occurred in late July and early August while families were away at church on Sundays, according to Detective Jeff Boyd.

A break in the three-week investigation came after a homeowner confronted Richards, who was asking for directions, and wrote down information on her vehicle’s license plate.

Middlebury police stopped Richards on Aug. 15 for a traffic violation. She was arrested on outstanding warrants in the cities of Goshen and Elkhart on unrelated charges.

Investigators served Richards an arrest warrant Friday for two counts of burglary. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison. She is being held at Elkhart County Jail.

Agencies assisting in the investigation included the LaGrange County and Elkhart County sheriff’s departments and police departments in Middlebury, Millersburg and Shipshewana.