Juneau Police Department officers arrested a burglary suspect less than an hour after he allegedly broke into a consignment store, stealing more than $1,000 in cash and goods.
Jared Paul Fortin, 32, has been charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and third-degree mischief in connection with the late-night break-in.
JPD received a call at approximately 11:22 p.m. Wednesday that Alaskan Dames Consignment Shop, located at 1900 Crest St., had been burglarized, said Lt. David Campbell in a press release. Officers arrived at the business and spoke with an employee, who reported the security alarm had gone off prior to the police being notified.
The investigation revealed that access to the business had been gained by forcing open a door, Campbell said. Damage to the door was estimated at approximately $1,000, and cash and consignment items had been stolen from the store. The burglary was captured on a video surveillance system and the officer immediately recognized the suspect as Fortin, according to Campbell.
Less than an hour later, a Juneau police officer located Fortin sitting in the back of a vehicle located near the 9200 block of Glacier Highway. Property stolen from Alaskan Dames was recovered from Fortin and returned to the business, Campbell said.
Alaskan Dames owner Lisa Ibias went live on her business Facebook page to comment on the break-in, telling her customers that the experience has been “kind of unsettling,” but that everything that had been stolen was returned, including the cash.
Ibias also gave a “shout-out” to JPD, saying, “They did an amazing job” in nabbing the suspect so quickly.
Fortin was arraigned in Juneau District Court Thursday afternoon on the charges from this arrest, as well as on violating conditions of release and petitions to revoke probation in several earlier cases.
Assistant Attorney General Kaci Schroeder told Judge Thomas Nave that Fortin had spent about an hour inside the store, stealing $1,400 total including “a large amount of cash.”
Schroeder noted that Fortin has 25 prior convictions, including a felony burglary in 2007. Court records show misdemeanor cases dating back to 2002 on charges that include disorderly conduct, trespassing, assault and disorderly conduct.
Although Fortin’s public defender said he was focused on getting drug treatment, and had been accepted to program in Anchorage, Nave set his bail at $5,000 cash performance.
• Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
