A 33-year-old Chatham man is facing a handful of charges after police say they connected him to a robbery, an assault, a break-in, and a stolen vehicle.
Officers say all of the incidents took place over the past week and a half.
The first incident took place at around 6:30am on July 23 at the corner of William St. N and King St. E in Chatham. Officers say the man is accused of assaulting a pedestrian after pulling up in the passenger seat of a white vehicle and asking for directions to Walpole Island. Police say the man then allegedly stole a tablet from the victim and took off in the white vehicle with an unidentified driver. The pedestrian reportedly suffered minor injuries.
Investigators say five days later, on July 28 at around 3:30pm, the same two men who were in the white vehicle during the first incident went into the Foodland on George St. in Dresden and allegedly walked out with about $110 in merchandise without paying for it. Officers say the same white vehicle that was used in the first incident was captured on video surveillance at Foodland.
Police say about an hour after the shoplifting incident on July 28, the same white vehicle showed up on a security camera at the scene of a break-in and theft at a residence on North River Line in Wallaceburg. Officers say two cameras, some binoculars, and some jewelry were stolen from the residence. The stolen items have a combined value of $60,000.
Officers say they arrested the suspect at around 10am Monday morning after getting a call about a suspicious vehicle on Alice St. in Thamesville. Police say they found the man inside a white vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle that was seen in the previous three incidents. During their investigation, officers learned that the vehicle and the license plate that was on it were both previously reported stolen. Police say they also found some stolen jewelry on the man while they were searching him.
The man that police arrested has been charged with robbery, theft, break and enter, and four counts of possession of stolen property. He is being held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Officers are still looking for a second man they believe was also involved in the incidents listed above.
