Cig thief accused in many burglaries

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - A 45-year-old man is in jail, accused of stealing primarily cigarettes from many businesses in Kalamazoo.

He was arrested after the last heist around 11:47 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Family Dollar store, 1710 S. Westnedge Ave.

Officers were dispatched to the business after the alarm had sounded. They arrived and noticed evidence of the burglary.

Moments later, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers Marc Rifenberg, Greg Magnan and Sgt. Anthony Morgan located the suspect who had the stolen property with him. The suspect was arrested and identified as Robert Lee Smith from Kalamazoo.

Smith targeted numerous gas stations and convenience stores during the month of October, according to a news release.

Detectives interviewed Smith and during the course of the investigation he confessed to five additional business burglaries -- the Shell gas station on Cork Street, the Shell gas station on S. Westnedge Avenue, Park Street Market, Paul's Pantry, and one of the Tobacco Shoppe locations.

Anyone with more information about these incidents is asked to call police at 269.337.8994 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.