Published: August 28, 2008 10:57 am      

Police arrest burglary suspect

A suspect believed to have burglarized two Gainesville convenience stores is in custody today.

Police arrested Patrick Joe Smith, 25, at his residence after he apparently agreed to turn himself in and then changed his mind.

Smith is charged with burglary of a building.

Authorities believe he was involved in five burglaries in at least two locations.

He is believed to be responsible for the Aug. 14, break-in at RJ’s Conono in the 1200 block of Grand Avenue during which $400 worth of cigarettes were taken.

The suspect apparently entered the store after breaking a window.

He is also suspected of the Aug. 14 burglary at the Highway 51 Quickstop in the 1800 block of West California Street.

Police discovered a front glass door broken at the convenience store.

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Police arrested another burglary suspect Wednesday after receiving a call about a suspicious person at Cooke County Appliance.

Officers arrested Robert Thomas, 45, of Gainesville outside the building in the 410 block of East California Street.

Thomas is believed to have entered the store through the roof.

Thomas was apparently not alone.

“There was a second subject on the roof, but he got away,” Fleming said.

He said police recovered some evidence includng gloves, flashlights and stolen property.