(WHSV) The Harrisonburg Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection to a series of break-ins that occurred Wednesday evening.
Bryan D. Royal, 41, of Harrisonburg is charged with Breaking and Entering (residential), larceny of a credit card, credit card fraud, and giving false I.D. to law enforcement. He was apprehended Thursday morning.
HPD said investigative work by various units resulted in the arrest.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) says four separate break-ins occurred on the evening of January 24th 2018. There were four separate incidents that occurred in a short period of time, and all have occurred on the west side of Harrisonburg.
Around 4:00 P.M. HPD received a report of a stolen credit card being used at business on Waterman Drive. The card was reportedly stolen from an apartment on Chicago Avenue earlier in the day.
Around 4:30 P.M. HPD responded to a residential burglary in progress on North Dogwood Drive near West Market Street. The suspect took household items and committed property damage at the residence.
Around 5:30 P.M. HPD responded to another residential burglary on North Willow Street in which a suspect entered a home and attempted to steal small items before leaving after a resident confronted him inside. Around 8:00 P.M. HPD received a complaint of a larceny from an unlocked vehicle in the area of Waterman Drive. The suspect stole several items to include cash, identification and a winter jacket.
HPD believes all of the incidents are related and the suspect may still be in the area. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 years of age, 6 foot tall, 200 pounds, short dark slightly balding hair and has light facial hair.
Here are some general safety tips to remember in order to help prevent becoming a victim:
- Lock your car. ALWAYS LOCK your car! The majority of local vehicle break-ins occur with unlocked car doors.
- Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
- Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
- Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Consider installing deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
- Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks and security bars are available.
Prevention is the best key. If something seems wrong, or you see any type of suspicious behavior in your community, report it. Alert citizens are the eyes of their neighborhoods. Officials are asking anyone who observes suspicious activity in their areas to contact the police immediately.
HPD encourages anyone in the community who observes suspicious or criminal activity to report it by calling 911. Callers who have information about crimes and wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 540-574-5050. Crime Solvers offers cash rewards for anonymous tips leading to arrests. Tipsters may also text “HPD” plus their tip to CRIMES (274637).