Published: September 22, 2009 02:13 pm      

LAFAYETTE NEWS: Rooftop burglary nets nearly $5,000 in smokes

A Mayo man was arrested after cutting a hole in the metal roof of a Lafayette County convenience store and taking more than $4,900 in merchandise, according to Sheriff Brian Lamb.

Lamb said 34-year-old John Levi Brown, of 315 SW Edison Road, was arrested after an investigation by deputy Chad Keen.

According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Keen responded to an alarm at the Buckville Jiffy Food Store at the intersection of US 27 and CR 534 at around 3:19 a.m. Friday.

Once on scene, Keen noticed that the store had been burglarized by someone cutting a hole in the roof and dropping down inside. Keen interviewed the manager of the store and determined that a car he observed in the area earlier matched the description of Brown's, a former employee of the store.

Keen and deputies Bobby Lawson and Randy Henderson went to Brown’s residence and discovered several items taken from the burglary in his home, the press release stated. Lamb said Brown stole $4,915.46 of mostly tobacco products.

Brown also reportedly admitted to breaking into a local car wash earlier in the evening.

Brown was arrested and transported to the Lafayette County Detention Center. He was charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of grand theft.

Also charged was 37-year-old Lee Ann Coleman, of the same address as Brown. Lamb said Coleman was responsible for driving Brown to the store, dropping him off and picking him back up.