TROY (WWJ) – A Southfield man accused of a nearly month-long crime spree in multiple Oakland County cities is being held on $200,000 bond.
James Chatman, 53, was charged with burglary last Friday after he was arrested last week in Troy.
Troy police officials say he’s responsible for multiple burglaries at businesses in Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham and other surrounding areas between Oct. 4-25.
Detectives were able to identify Chatman as a suspect in the case and conducted surveillance, confirming he and his vehicles were involved in the string of ongoing burglaries, according to Troy police.
Around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 patrol officers got word from plainclothes detectives that a possible burglary had just happened at the King’s Plaza shopping complex on Rochester Road near Long Lake.
When officers showed up they found the handle on the back door had been damaged and checked inside, where they found the cash register door had been left open with no cash left inside.
The owner of the business, which was not identified, showed up and told police about $120 was missing. Detectives soon after took Chatman into custody.
He was arraigned Friday and is being held on $200,000 bond, Troy police officials announced Wednesday.
Investigators from multiple departments, including Troy, Royal Oak, Auburn Hills, Birmingham and Bloomfield Township worked together on the investigation.
Authorities have not released any information about the other alleged burglaries in other cities and it was not immediately clear if Chatman has been charged with any crimes other than the Troy burglary.