A Ludowici man has been arrested after DNA evidence linked him to six vehicle break-ins earlier this year, Statesboro police said.
Richard Warren Lundy, 32, is charged with six counts of entering an auto.
On March 3, Statesboro police responded to Coastal Regional Coaches on Northside Drive East when a resident saw someone breaking into vans on the property. Officer Nick Marson responded and found that several vans had been broken into, but the offender had left, Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner said in a news release issued Thursday.
During the preliminary investigation of the area, Marson found blood that was suspected to be from the offender, Turner said.
Detective Kevin Weatherly processed the scene and collected samples of the blood and other evidence in the area. Through further investigation, Weatherly issued a “be-on-the-lookout” alert for Lundy for questioning in reference to the investigation, Turner said.
Lundy also had an active warrant for violating parole.
On April 2, Weatherly met with Lundy at the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office after Lundy was arrested for violating parole, Turner said.
Weatherly was able to obtain a DNA sample from Lundy at the sheriff’s office. The DNA sample was sent to the GBI crime lab, along with the blood samples that were taken from the crime scene for analysis and comparison.
On July 29, the GBI crime lab results helped link Lundy to the vehicle break-ins at Coastal Regional Coaches, and he was arrested two days later.
Lundy is being held at Bulloch County Jail awaiting further court action.
Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact Weatherly at the Statesboro Police Department at 912-764-9911. Anonymous tips may be submitted online at www.tipsoft.com or by sending a text message beginning with “TIPSSPD” to 274637 (CRIMES). All information is kept confidential.