An Alexandria man has been charged in connection with a string of commercial burglaries in Hybla Valley that happened earlier this year.
The 23-year-old man is believed to be responsible for five business break-ins that occurred toward the end of April, the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Tuesday).
Police officers responded to the first incident around 2:15 a.m. on April 17. Based on a preliminary investigation, detectives found that someone used a rock to smash the glass front door of La Taza Panaderia (7850 Richmond Highway) in Hybla Valley.
The person stole money from the cafe before fleeing the scene, police said.
Throughout their investigation, detectives were able to tie the same man to four other break-ins that month, the FCPD said in a press release. Three restaurants were targeted — China One and Skrimp Shack in Mount Vernon Plaza and Taco Lucas at 8142 Richmond Highway — as well as a K&A Auto Repair shop (8164 Richmond Highway).
The FCPD says detectives worked with the Department of Forensic Science to identify a suspect.
The Alexandria man, who was already in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on unrelated charges, was charged with an additional five counts of property destruction, four counts of burglary and three counts of petit larceny.
He is scheduled to appear in Fairfax County General District Court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 11.
