Two men arrested Wednesday in connection with a burglary at a business in Benton have also been linked to a series of break-ins in West City.
Police Chief Steve Mumbower said Craig L. Dillard, 19, and Alan R. Alexander, 18, both of Benton, had taken part in burglaries at West City businesses and homes last Friday.
“It took five days, but we cleared it,” Mumbower said of the case. “We were able to link Alexander and Dillard to the break-ins.”
The West City Police Department arrested Alexander on Wednesday. Dillard was arrested that day, also, by the Benton Police Department.
Both men were taken to the Franklin County Jail in Benton.
Mumbower said Dillard and Alexander were the suspects in break-ins at Lampley Oil, Inc., Plaza Restaurant and Independent Boat Builders, Inc., all in West City, as well a a couple of homes in the village.
“Two cars at a residence next to Independent Boat Builders had been gone through and a $150 watch was taken,” Mumbower said. “They also attempted another residential burglary at a nearby home by removing some screens.”
The noise apparently awoke a resident in the home, who turned on the lights and sent the would-be burglars scrambling.
“They took all kinds of stuff from the businesses,” Mumbower said.
Among the items taken were a safe and several hundred dollars in cash from the Plaza, some baseball memorabilia and a couple of small 22-caliber pistols from Lampley Oil, and a new flat-screen TV from Independent Boat Builders.
“They also took paper towels, toilet paper, soda, alcohol, candy — even some cigars that they apparently thought were Cubans,” Mumbower said.
Benton Police Chief Mike O’Neill said Wednesday that Dillard and Alexander were both arrested on charges of criminal damage to property.
Dillard also was charged with resisting a police officer, O’Neill said, and charges are pending against him for theft and unlawful possession of cannabis.
