Published: September 26, 2008 02:35 pm      

Police arrest man in recent burglary spree

Three recent burglaries which occurred over a nine-day period have been linked by Richmond police to a one man “crime spree” and the public is being asked for any information that may link him to other thefts.

John Rucker, 46, of Rosedale Avenue was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of second-degree burglary and theft by deception over $300 in relation to three separate crimes.

The crime spree began on Sept. 16 when Rucker allegedly broke into a residence on Farmington Court and stole approximately $32,000 worth of jewelry.

Rucker also is allegedly connected with a Sept. 22 residential burglary on Whispering Woods Drive in which a ring and bracelet, valued at $4,000, were stolen.

Meanwhile, police were making a case against Rucker, officials said.

“Detectives investigating the cases developed information from a witness in the area of one of the burglaries that led to the identification of Rucker as a suspect,” Sgt. Willard Reardon said.

At one time, Rucker was contacted by telephone and urged to surrender, but he failed to come forward, Reardon said.

Another burglary was committed on Sept. 24 on Breck Avenue in which numerous items of jewelry were stolen, the value of which has yet to be determined.

Shortly thereafter, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division received information that Rucker was at Gem-Ray Jeweler in Richmond Plaza, possibly attempting to dispose of stolen goods.

“Detectives responded to the area and located Rucker inside the Kroger store, where he was detained,” Reardon said. “A search of his person produced many of the items of jewelry that had been stolen from the Breck Avenue residence only hours earlier.”

Detectives also were able to recover a number of items of jewelry from the first two burglaries at another local jewelry store where the items had been sold by Rucker, Reardon said.

Rucker is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center in lieu of $20,000 cash bond.

Detective still are in search of the vehicle Rucker may have driven while committing some of the burglaries, Reardon said.

It is described as a 1988 Toyota passenger car, light blue or gray in color, with a loud muffler.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle or who may have been the victim of a burglary in which such a vehicle was involved, are asked to call the Richmond Police Criminal Investigations Division at 623-8911.

Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@richmondregister.com or by phone at 624-6694 or 893-2341.