PALM COAST, Fla. – A burglar accused of entering a Palm Coast jewelry store three times has been arrested, deputies said.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said it received an alarm call at 7:14 a.m. Tuesday from Greg Lynn Jewelers at 101 Flagler Plaza Drive. Deputies arrived to find several broken windows, but did not find any burglary suspects.
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Deputies said the business' surveillance video revealed the burglar entered the store three times.
During the first entry, the burglar used a hatchet, smashed a window and made entry at 6 a.m. Deputies said once the burglar was in the building, he was able to escape with a small bag that contained nothing of value. He was wearing a plastic bag over his head.
After fleeing, the man returned to the business one hour later and used the same hatchet to break another window, deputies said. He was able to take 13 to 15 bracelets valued at $500 and fled. During this entry, the burglar was wearing a T-shirt around his face, deputies said
As the burglar was getting into his vehicle, he exposed the tag of the vehicle, as well as his face to the security cameras, deputies said.
After driving his vehicle to a nearby business, the burglar was seen coming back into the business on foot for a third time, deputies said. He was not wearing anything over his face this time.
Although only being in the business for a brief period of time, the burglar was unsuccessful in taking any additional items. Deputies said it is believed he returned to see if he left his hatchet in the store.
The Sheriff's Office said after researching the registered owner's information for the tag seen in the video, detectives responded to Reinhardt Lane and made contact with the registered owner and her boyfriend, identified by deputies as Craig Chavez, 51.
After consenting to an interview, detectives learned what transpired and arrested Chavez without incident. Deputies said he has been charged with burglary of a structure, criminal mischief, grand theft and possession of burglary tools.
Deputies said Chavez was booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility and is being held under a $10,000 bond.
"I am proud of all who assisted in making this arrest a reality," said Flagler County Sheriff James L. Manfre. "It is another example of the great work the men and women at the FCSO do on a daily basis."
Of the items known to have been stolen, several bracelets were recovered not far from the store and the rest were recovered inside Chavez's dresser, deputies said. Several have already been returned to the owner.