An alert citizen helped Ft Payne Police stop a break-in in progress – and ultimately – solve a series of burglaries by making a timely phone call.

Officers quickly responded to Harris Mini-Storage, located at 3018 Greenhill Boulevard NW after the witness reported seeing someone trying to break into the units.  Upon arrival, they made contact with a man getting into a black Chevy Monte Carlo. 

Inside the vehicle, they found burglary tools and after speaking with the man – identified as 41 year old Billy Edward Blake of Ft Payne, the subject was arrested for being in Possession of Burglary Tools and carried to the Ft Payne City Jail.

Investigators were able to later add additional charges to Blake and close a number of cases in which break-in’s had occurred at mini-storage units in the Ft Payne area.

At this time Blake stands charged with – seven counts of Burglary, two counts of Possession of Burglary Tools, and eight counts of Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree, along with eight counts of Attempted Burglary

Those working on the investigation included Detectives Jim Phillips, David Davis, Mike Grant and Andy Hairston.