One person is in custody after a rash of burglaries at several Poplar Bluff businesses.
James Michael Hastings, 24, of the 2300 block of Leonard Drive, was arrested Thursday, Dec. 16, on two counts of burglary in relation to break-ins at Bread+Butter and Heights Finance.
Hastings is being held in the Butler County jail.
The burglary at Bread+Butter was reported on Dec. 7. After spending up to two hours inside the business, according to earlier reports, the suspect stole an undetermined amount of cash.
The Height Finance burglary was reported on Dec. 9.
Three other burglaries also were reported that week, including at Regional Finance on Dec. 6, Bluff Tax & Accounting on Dec. 8 and SEMO Prosthetics on Dec. 9.
The method used in each burglary was similar, Police Detective Dan Mustain said earlier.
“They’re prying open doors and pilfering through stuff,” he said.
The suspect was captured on surveillance video at Bread+Butter, and the Poplar Bluff Police Department published a still image from that video seeking help from the public to identify the perpetrator. Tips led to the arrest of Hastings, according to officers.
The investigation of the other three burglaries is ongoing, police Chief Danny Whiteley said in a news release.
“I would like to thank Detective Dan Mustain for his diligence in enhancement of video evidence and working with the citizens of our community for information leading to the arrest of James Hastings,” Whiteley said.
Further arrests in the case, Whiteley said, may be made.