CHANDLER, Ariz. — A Chandler man has been arrested on suspicion of burglarizing several businesses during a two-day crime spree.
Charles Payne, 56, is suspected of throwing rocks through the windows of businesses located along Arizona Avenue on Wednesday.
Chandler police said Payne was seen exiting a Five Guys restaurant at about 3 a.m. after an officer noticed one of the building's windows had been damaged.
Officers later discovered Payne allegedly broke into a car wash and a Sonic Drive-In earlier that morning, court records show.
Police said Payne was traced to three other burglaries reported Tuesday morning near Alma School and Queen Creek roads.
Payne was booked into the Maricopa County jail on several counts of third-degree burglary and may be facing additional charges.
Court records show Payne has been convicted of burglary four times before this arrest, including burglarizing businesses in Mesa back in 2002 and another crime spree in Chandler in 2010. In that case, police say he hit 10 different businesses and also used a rock to break in.
ADC records show Payne was released from prison in April 2021. Payne faced a judge earlier this week on the latest charges and was released to his probation officer.
He's due back in court later this month.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.
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