EMMET CO. -- A Petoskey man is behind bars, accused of a crime spree targeting one neighborhood.
The 22-year-old is facing charges for more than 40 break-ins at the Bay View Association. According to the Emmet Co. Sheriff's Office, a snow plow driver helped lead investigators to the suspect.
The plow driver saw a man running out of the Bay View Association around 2:00am Wednesday. When deputies arrived they saw evidence of more thefts. The suspect was tracked to a home in Petoskey where several of the stolen items were found. Investigators say they recovered jewelry, sterling silverware and other items reported missing by home owners.
"Oh yeah, we got lucky. It's good police work, and the citizen that just happened to be driving through observed this individual who looked suspicious, who was running, called 911, and because of that, the this individual is in jail, and we believe we've solved 47 B&E's," says Emmet County Sheriff Pete Wallin.
The total amount the suspect got away with isn't known right now and probably won't be until the seasonal home owners return this spring.
The Emmet County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Petoskey Department of Public Safety, Michigan State Police, LTBB Police, and the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit.
