Arrest for Burglarizing Vehicles in Central

CENTRAL —A 20-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly burglarizing more than 20 unlocked vehicles in the Central area between May and August, a spokeswoman with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Justin Watkins, 5202 Bangor Drive, just off Flannery Road south of the Comite River, rode his bicycle around Oak Cluster, Bellingrath, Comite Hills, Comite Hills West and the Greenwell Springs Road area, checking for unlocked vehicles and burglarizing 23 of them, Hicks said. Watkins stole two firearms, change, jewelry and sunglasses.

Investigators got surveillance video of Watkins from various residents, Hicks said. That video helped investigators locate and arrest Watkins, who was booked into Parish Prison on 23 counts of simple burglary, 17 counts of theft, two counts of theft of a firearm, and a count of criminal damage to property.