Investigators have linked an 18-year-old man to a series of vehicle break-ins in the Fort Wayne area, according to court records.
Chad M. Kelley Jr., of the 6900 block of Province Drive, was charged Wednesday with corrupt business influence.
Fort Wayne police believe that from June to January, Kelley was involved in a “theft ring that was responsible for numerous thefts” in and around the city, a probable cause affidavit said.
Kelley’s girlfriend told police Kelley would steal items such as stereos, iPods and paintball guns while “car hopping,” the affidavit said.
She told police she pawned three stolen GPS devices for Kelley. She said she had been pawning stolen goods for him for a few weeks and that before that, he would sell the items to customers or employees at a carwash where he used to work, the affidavit said.
The affidavit offers evidence that Kelley was connected to thefts of garage door openers from vehicles last month in a neighborhood southwest of Coliseum and Sherman boulevards. A man who has not been charged told his girlfriend that he and Kelley used the openers to break into garages, the affidavit said.
Kelley, who has a warrant for his arrest, was not in custody Wednesday.
