Burglar arrested, suspected in multiple break ins

A Poplar Bluff man may face burglary and stealing charges after authorities caught him inside the local Parks and Recreation Department office early Wednesday morning.

Just before 1:20 a.m., officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department responded to an alarm at the park department office in the 400 block of North Second Street, Capt. David Sutton said in a press release.

Upon his arrival, Sutton said, Patrolman Kenneth Carpenter found Matthew Lovell, 30, inside the building.

“He had pried a window open and just entered,” said Lt. Josh Stewart. “He hadn’t been in there long.”

Sutton said Lovell was taken into custody without incident on suspicion of second-degree burglary, stealing and possession of burglary tools.

“He had some property that belonged in that building on his person,” Stewart said.

Lovell, Stewart said, also had hammers and some screwdrivers allegedly in his possession.

Lovell was booked at the Butler County Justice Center.

Stewart said Lovell is suspected in some other similar burglaries in the same general area — the east side and central portion of town.

Burglaries have been reported recently at Holy Cross Episcopal Church on Main Street, the Poplar Bluff Junior High School and Precision Auto Glass on East Pine Street, Stewart said.

The junior high and the church, according to Stewart, are “out of the norm” as neither had things of value like cash.

“It’s more computers and things like that,” Stewart said. “I don’t know why you would break into a church.”

Both the church and junior high had video surveillance, which is being reviewed by Detective Dan Mustain, Stewart said.

Detectives, Stewart said, are “trying to make a connection” between the break ins, and there is “definitely a potential” Lovell may be involved in the crimes.