Suspect arrested for multiple thefts
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Staff report
Staff report
Staff report - Published: May 10, 2009
DANVILLE — One arrest this week appears to have solved three burglaries and may lead to the resolution of several other burglaries in the region, according to state police.
State police said they received a call Friday morning from Philip Gimli-Mead, 55, who told them that he interrupted a burglar at his Danville home.
Minutes later, police in Hardwick stopped Jason Bowers, 32, whose description matched that of the burglar that Gimli-Mead had given to police.
Before Bowers of North Wolcott was taken to the barracks for processing, police learned of another burglary at the Danville home of Carrie Legus, 47, who told police her wallet and laptop computer were taken.
Police said Bowers consented to a search of his car, and Legus' missing property was found inside.
Later, after Bowers' arrest, police learned of a third burglary in town. Randy Hopkins, 50, told police a collection of knives and handguns were stolen from his home. The knives were found in Bowers' car. Hopkins' guns were found Friday evening by Hardwick police who searched a home in North Wolcott. Police did not say whether the searched home belonged to Bowers.
Police believe Bowers might also be linked to burglaries in Caledonia and Lamoille counties and the Middlesex area.
Bowers was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of violating conditions of release and possession of a controlled substance for possessing 51 Xanax pills found in his car. He was jailed following his arrest.
Police believe Bowers may have been casing homes for future burglaries while working as a door to door salesman.
Police are asking anyone living in the Caledonia and Lamoille counties or the Middlesex area who has been burglarized but did not report lost items to contact local police.
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