INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Authorities arrested a man they say broke into a business to take money he thought the owner owed him.
Nickolas Perkins, 33, faces charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools, loitering and prowling, driving with license suspended with knowledge, and has been picked up on an outstanding Indian River County warrant for theft, according to the press release.
While on patrol Wednesday evening, Dep. Lonnie Chandler was flagged down by a business owner in the 800 block of South U.S. 1 regarding a possible business burglary in progress, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The owner said that he heard a banging sound coming from an adjacent business, the Vero Beach Arcade, located at 832 S U..S 1. He noted observing former Vero Beach Arcade employee Perkins walking and driving around the business throughout the day.
Dep. Chandler alerted other units in the area and set up a covert surveillance on the business.
Around 30 minutes later, Dep. Chandler observed Perkins drive to the south side of the complex and walk toward the closed business, according to authorities. Perkins went to the back door where deputies approached him. They located a large rubber mallet in a garbage can near the rear door.
Deputies interviewed Perkins and he confessed to burglarizing the business earlier that evening, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Perkins admitted to using the rubber mallet to gain entry into the rear door of the business.
He told deputies that he felt the business owed him money and he was worried they would go out of business before he was paid. Vero Beach Arcade was processed by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Unit and the business owner is still trying to determine all of the items taken during the burglary. Deputies believe he returned to the business to remove more items.
“This case is a great example of how our relationship with the community, combined with proactive policing methods, can help solve crimes,” said Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. “The business owner was comfortable speaking with Deputy Chandler, which provided the lead we needed to catch this burglar. We say it so often, but if you see something, say something. It really does work.”
Perkins is being held at the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $35,500 bond.