Shreveport police spent several hours this morning inside the Sears store at Mall St. Vincent, looking for a suspect who reportedly was inside the building.
When crime scene investigators were working on the case about 11 a.m., the suspect apparently thought the coast was clear and walked out from his hiding place. He was arrested without incident.
Anthony Barrett, 40, of Shreveport is charged with one count of burglary. He is being investigated for similar crimes that occurred recently at the same Sear’s location, as well as Dillard’s.
Barrett reportedly entered the store before closing time and waited until employees left to burglarize the store. He apparently had taken jewelry from the jewelry cases as well as some video equipment before a security guard saw him inside the business about 6 a.m. More than a dozen officers searched the large building looking for the suspect.
Initially, police believed a second suspect may have been inside with Barrett, although a thorough search of the business netted no additional suspects.
Police have located the stolen items, which were still inside the store.
Barrett has been arrested several times previously for burglary and unauthorized entry of a business.