Man arrested in connection with three burglaries

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A man was arrested on three counts of burglary after being caught at the scene of one of the burglaries, according to the probable cause affidavit.

On July 26, officers with the South Bend Police Department were called to the 3200 block of Lincoln Way West for a burglary report at a sports store.

At the address, the owner told police that someone forced their way into the store and that money was missing from the cash register inside.

Glass to multiple entry doors had been broken out and the cash register was open when the owner got there, reports said.

On the store's security camera, the owner saw footage of an unknown male entering the building.

According to the video, a male used an unknown item to break the doors' glass and get into the store.

The suspect was wearing a blue hooded sweat with the hood up, a black T-shirt on top of the blue sweatshirt, black pants, black tennis shoes, and a COVID-19-style face mask.

On August 9, officers were called to the 2300 block of Lincoln Way West for a burglary at a restaurant.

The restaurant owner told police that someone forced their way into the store and that money was missing from the cash register.

Officers did a sweep of the restaurant and didn't find anyone inside.

Video footage from the restaurant showed a male forcing his way into the building and into the cash register.

The suspect was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, a black T-Shirt on top of the blue sweatshirt, black pants, black tennis shoes, and a COVID-19-style face mask.

Police compared security footage from both burglaries and determined that the suspect was the same in both, based on physical stature and the clothes the suspect was wearing.

On August 13, officers were called to the 3900 block of Lincoln Way West for a burglary at a florist.

At the shop, officers detained a suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Jose Tirado.

When officers found Tirado, he was wearing the exact clothing the suspect in the last two burglaries was wearing. He also matched the physical description of the suspect, police said.

Tirado allegedly admitted to burglarizing the sports store and another location.

He said he used a brick to force entry into the sports store and took $100 out of the store, reports said.

Tirado allegedly denied involvement in any other incidents.

He is being held on a $2,000 cash bond.

His initial hearing is set for September 26.