Four arrested in string of burglaries

Four men were arrested Friday for burglaries committed in the city and county over the past four months. The arrests followed a weeklong investigation by the Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department and the Cape Girardeau Police Department. More arrests are expected next week.

Arrested were:

Joshua Bowers, 19, of Cape Girardeau, on four counts of second-degree burglary and six counts of felony stealing.

David Koeller, 21, of Jackson, on four counts of second-degree burglary and one count of felony stealing.

Devin Dale, 17, of Cape Girardeau, on five counts of second-degree burglary and one count of felony stealing.

Adam Roberts, 19, of Cape Girardeau, on two counts of second-degree burglary and one count of felony stealing

All are in the Cape Girardeau County Jail. All but Koeller have a bond of 15,000; Koeller's is $20,000.

In the city, the four are accused of stealing music equipment from Westminster Presbyterian Church and First Pentecostal Church on July 23. They also allegedly took coins from Semo Laundry, 123 N. Pacific St., on July 8, and took food and cash after breaking into the concession stands in Shawnee Park and Arena Park in early July.

They are also accused of taking food and cigarettes from the grocery store at Whitewater May 24.

Police said the suspects were connected to a number of residential burglaries in the city and county where computer games and firearms were stolen.

"We had two residential burglaries in the county," said Sgt. Eric Friedrich of the sheriff's department. "About 10 firearms were taken, and we were able to get seven back."

Cpl. Don Perry of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said investigators in the county received information about some guns stolen there, which were found to be connected to burglaries in the city.

"Things just fell into place," Perry said.

"It was good, hard police work, that's it," Friedrich said. "And a little bit of luck."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160