Columbus police believe man committed business robberies

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) — A man who police say is responsible for multiple business burglaries on the east side of Columbus has been arrested.

The Columbus Police Department said Monday that Jeron McDonald, 27, was arrested early Thursday morning. Police say several early morning burglaries have happened at businesses where a rock was used to break glass to enter the buildings.

Police said in a news release that the department had received reports of a business burglary Thursday morning in the 1700 block of State Street, which is also known as State Road 46. That’s a commercial and residential area southeast of downtown Columbus. Police found a rock that was used to break the glass door of the business, and that a cash register filled with money had been stolen from the business.

Security camera footage led police to a suspect, and, police say, McDonald was in the area just before they received a call about the burglary.

Investigators later found the stolen cash register in the alley of a nearby apartment building in the 500 block of South Cherry Street, leading to McDonald’s arrest.

He was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, and criminal mischief.

McDonald’s initial hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

Columbus is about a 50-minute drive south of downtown Indianapolis.