Man accused of burglarizing 6 businesses in 3 days

A 24-year-old man has been charged with six counts of burglary for allegedly burglarizing six businesses over three days, according to court records.

Cody Smith, 24, was charged Thursday with six counts of burglary.

Smith is accused of the following burglaries, according to the probable cause affidavit:

  • July 6 - One Stop gas station, 209 W. Sample Street, South Bend - Smith allegedly used a crow bar to enter the Arby's next door, entered the gas station and stole several cartons of cigarettes and cash.
  • July 7 - South Side Grocery Store, 1823 S. Michigan Street, South Bend - Smith and another subject are accused of using a crow bar to enter the store. They allegedly took several cartons of cigarettes and cash. Smith told police he used a crow bar to open the door, according to the probable cause affidavit.
  • July 7 - Dollar Tree, 4401 W. Western Avenue, South Bend - The two subjects allegedly used a crow bar to gain access to the store. They attempted to break into a safe but were unsuccessful, reports said. Surveillance video showed the suspects matched the suspects in the surveillance video at the South Side Grocery Store, reports said.
  • July 9 - Midas, 525 S. Michigan Street, South Bend - Officers responded to a burglar alarm at the Midas and found a door standing open. The suspects had forced their way into the building through the door, but nothing appeared to be missing, reports said. Smith told police he used a crow bar to open the door, reports said.
  • July 9 - Apollo Printing and Graphics, 731 S. Michigan Street, South Bend - Officers responded to the business for a burglary in progress call. When they arrived, they found the door open, but no one inside, reports said. The door had been forced open and a radio that had been inside the store was outside the store. Nothing appeared to have been taken, reports said. Smith told police he used a crow bar to open the door, according to the probable cause affidavit.
  • July 9 - Family Dollar, 1633 S. Michigan Street, South Bend - Officers responding to a burglary at the Family Dollar learned a suspect was in custody. A suspect used a rock to gain entry to the store, reports said.

On July 9, Smith was located a block south of the Family Dollar store wearing a blue backpack reported stolen from Apollo Printing and Graphics, according to the probable cause affidavit.

During his first interview, Smith told investigators he used a rock to force his way into the Dollar General. He said he disposed of the face cover and a pair of gloves in the area where he was apprehended, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Officers located those items in an area on the south side of the South Side Grocery, reports said.

Smith also admitted to using a crow bar to enter the Midas and prying open the door at Apollo Printing and Graphics, according to the probable cause affidavit.

On July 14, during another interview, Smith admitted to using a crow bar to break into the South Side Grocery, a metal bar to force entry to the Arby's which gave him access to the One Stop gas station and a crowbar to enter the Dollar Tree, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The second suspect was not identified in court documents.

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