ST. GEORGE — The St. George Police Department is seeking information about a string of burglaries reported in recent weeks that have impacted multiple small businesses in St. George.

According to information posted by St. George Police Officer Tiffany Mitchell, the public is being asked to help identify the suspect. So authorities have released still photos captured from surveillance footage taken during the break-ins that show a suspect described as a white male, 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 240 pounds. The photos can be viewed in the gallery below.

Jack Lancaster, owner of Angelica’s Mexican Grille, reached out to St. George News on Monday and said his business was broken into twice in less than two weeks by the same suspect who was captured on the restaurant’s surveillance footage.

During the incident last week, he said, the suspect entered the restaurant by prying open the exterior door and then kicked in the office door, causing extensive damage to not only the exterior door but to the office door as well.

Less than one week later, he said, his business was hit again by the same suspect who pried open the exterior door with a crowbar, and instead of walking through the building, he said, the suspect went straight to the office and kicked the door in for a second time.

The suspect was unable to take anything on the second go-around, Lancaster said, adding the outside cameras also showed the suspect driving off in a white Volkswagen Jetta.

Lancaster also said his business is one of several that have been hit by this same suspect, adding the burglaries take place either late at night or during the early-morning hours when the shops are closed.

In fact, he said, there was another restaurant on River Road that was hit directly after his business was broken into, he said, a break-in that was also captured on surveillance footage that shows the same suspect wearing the same clothing as what was seen during the burglary at his shop.

Business owners are working together in an effort to reduce the losses and improve security, a networking strategy aimed at deterring crime as well, Lancaster added.

Danielle Bundy, owner of Baskin Robbins located near Walmart on Pioneer Road, said her store was broken into on the night of May 28, and minutes later the same suspect burglarized Dickey’s Barbeque Pit located just yards away.

Bundy also shared similar comments regarding the collaboration between business owners, adding they are sharing information regarding the break-ins, as well as information on beefing up security.

Dickey’s owner Alicia Phillips told St. George News that during the incident on May 28, the suspect parked near the mattress retailer adjacent to the ice cream store at 11 p.m. and was in and out of Baskin Robbins by 11:18 p.m.

From there, she said, the suspect went directly to Dickey’s, where he spent less than two minutes, exited and drove away.

Phillips also said that working with other local restaurant owners has been very helpful, and the sharing of information taking place between small businesses is of particular importance for an industry that has been hit hard over the last few years.

All three businesses reported the incidents to police and provided security footage or photos to St. George News that can be viewed in the video at the top of this report.

An undisclosed amount of cash was also taken between all of the businesses.

Anyone with information that might assist the St. George Police Department help identify the suspect responsible or any leads is asked to contact the St. George Police Department at 435-627-4300 and reference incident number 19P024340.

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Photo gallery  

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