Detectives have charged a man from Bartow County in a brazen early-morning break-in and theft at a downtown Asheville jewelry store that netted more than $354,000 in merchandise.
Officers responded to a business alarm at the store on Page Avenue around 5:28 a.m. on March 8th. They found the front glass door shattered, display cases smashed, and merchandise scattered across the floor. Surveillance video captured two men arriving in a silver sedan, smashing their way inside, and fleeing with the stolen goods.
Using video evidence and License Plate Reader technology, Asheville detectives identified one suspect as Justin Thomas Baker, 32, of Bartow County. Additional video from a nearby gas station and help from Georgia law enforcement agencies strengthened the case.
Baker faces charges of Felony Larceny, Breaking and Entering, Organized Retail Theft, and Possession of Burglary Tools. He remains at large, and authorities believe him to be somewhere in Georgia.
Authorities describe Baker as a white male, 6-foot-2, about 150 pounds, with brown hair, green eyes, and a rectangular blue tattoo on his right forearm.
Asheville Police thank the Roswell Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and Georgia Department of Community Supervision for their assistance. Detectives continue working to identify the second suspect.
Anyone with information about Baker’s whereabouts or the break-in should contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. You can also submit an anonymous tip through the TIP2APD smartphone app or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.