Police believe when they arrested the man is in surveillance video taken in a Roanoke Chuch, they may have solved nearly 50 burglaries going back to april in Roanoke and Roanoke County.
But it was a tough case to crack.
Ronnie Wygal/Roanoke County: It was frustrating for us because all of the leads were basically dead end. We were using countless man hours... We were at our ropes end.
Police tell me most of the crimes happened in the Brambleton Road area, and involved businesses and homes.? They say the thieves were looking for small electronics and lap tops.
Carlin: What was the means of entry? Wygal:Doors or windows. Carlin: Breaking them or going through? Wygal: Breaking them.
The break came in October when Lt. Todd Clingenpeel of the city made a routine traffic stop.
Clingenpeel: I saw a vehicle that was going north bound on 14th street that had no city decal on it. ... I got a response from dmv stating that the vehicle was stolen. ... We watched the man go to an apartment complex at eureka park... The individual ran out the side doors and was stopped by officers outside the building.
Inside the car, many of the? electronics stolen in the County.
Carlin: Was there an 'aha' moment for you? Clingenpeel: Definitely there was. ... We knew then to stop this was much bigger than a stolen vehicle from another jurisdiction.
Police tell me the suspect is 34 year-old?Ronnie Howard of Roanoke.? They are continuing to investigate the case and believe as more evidence is processed, that they will link him to many more if not most of the crimes.? They tell me the number of burglaries has gone down considerably since he was taken off the streets.
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