James Welch, 51, perpetrated all nine of the burglaries by himself between April 18 and his arrest Wednesday night, police said.
TRENTON — A car stop and drug arrest earlier this week led to nine burglary charges against a city man allegedly responsible for a string of break-ins to Trenton landmarks including the Masonic Temple, police said.
James Welch, 51, perpetrated all nine of the burglaries by himself between April 18 and his arrest Wednesday night, police said. They included six break-ins to the Artworks building on Everett Alley, two to St. Mary’s Cathedral on North Warren Street, and one to the Masonic Temple, according to police.
Detective Michael Nazario and Sgt. Darren Zappley began investigating the crimes, and eventually were able to identify distinct characteristics of their suspect, Lt. Steve Varn said.
That information was passed along to patrol officers, who pulled Welch over when he was driving on the 300 block of West State Street. Though initially held for a drug paraphernalia violation, the officers soon found Welch matched their burglary suspect’s description and placed him under arrest for the additional crimes.
During the break-ins, police alleged Welch took food, electronics and liquor. There was no set method of entry during the crimes, Varn said.
Police charged Welch with nine counts of burglary and theft, along with the drug violation. His bail was set at $250,000 cash or bond, and Welch was taken to the Mercer County Correction Center to be held there.
In August of 1999, Welch was arrested outside the Artworks building after allegedly trying to break in there. Police found his shoe print on a fiberglass window, and said he was trying to force his way inside after stealing a fan from a church on West Front Street earlier in the night.
Contact Alex Zdan at azdan@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5705.
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