Police arrest smash and grab suspect

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says a man in custody could be responsible for burglarizing dozens of businesses and stealing cash registers in the process.

Police arrested 54-year-old Kenneth Ward early Monday morning. Police say he was caught burglarizing two south side business, using a crow bar to get inside.

Investigators said it's how the crimes were committed that tie Ward to burglaries in several other counties. Metro police think the man in surveillance pictures is Ward.

24-Hour-News 8 first brought you this story two weeks ago after a rash of business burglaries along I-65, including Lincoln Square Restaurant in Columbus.

"They broke the glass door; they walked in and goes back here, grabbed the cash register, cut the wires and ran off," said Lincoln Square Restaurant owner Nick Katris.

Police said Ward broke inside the China Garden Restaurant and Books on Sale store in the 2400 block of S. East Street and walked out of the businesses with cash registers.

Multiple police agencies have been working the case since January. 24-Hour News 8 has talked with investigators in Seymour in the South and all the way north to Hamilton County.

Ward is suspected in 30 business burglaries in all. The crimes: bold and brazen; often times, smash and grabs. Police hope the arrest of Ward, means the crime spree is over.

Police are not releasing a picture of Ward because they want to put him in a line-up.

24-Hour News 8 also learned Pendleton Police believe Ward could be the suspect in a burglary there as well.