FORT PIERCE — Police have arrested a man after investigating several businesses in downtown Fort Pierce that were burglarized between June 3 and June 5, according to police officials.
Stephen Gardner, 25, of Fort Pierce, was arrested on charges of grand theft $750 or more, burglary of an unoccupied structure, interfering with a law enforcement officer without violence, and possessing burglary tools with the intent to use, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Gardner was taken into custody on June 7 and is in the St. Lucie County Jail on $8,000 bond.
Beach Bowls, the Hippie Hut, and Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, were all burglarized, according to Fort Pierce Police spokesperson Juliana Walker on June 5.
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Fort Pierce Police officers used surveillance footage and information from business owners in their investigation, police officials stated on social media. Detectives in the crime suppression unit found Gardner and took him into custody, after he attempted to flee.
Detectives used matching clothing and recovered stolen merchandise to link Gardner to the burglaries.
Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man jailed; charged with burglarizing downtown Fort Pierce businesses