ICYMI: Decatur Burglary Suspect Arrested

Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office

Decatur police have arrested a man they say committed at least two residential burglaries in Decatur on Aug. 7.

Nehemia Christopher, 27, was arrested on Wednesday and faces two charges of felony burglary, DeKalb County jail records show. There is no bond information currently available for Christopher.

On 08-07-2015 at 6:58 pm, Decatur Police responded to a burglary in the 100 block of Ridgeland Avenue. The victim reported he was upstairs inside of his residence when he heard his door alarm chime. He walked down the stairs when he heard the door alarm chime again. He checked the front door and it was locked. He walked towards the back door and he could see a black male walking down his rear deck stairs. The male was wearing a light colored tank top and dark shorts. He followed the male and last saw him running on Sycamore Drive. Officers observed forced entry to the rear kitchen window of the residence. There were small pry marks on the window and the lock mechanism was damaged. The victim reported the rear door was unlocked before the incident occurred.

Officers further spoke to witnesses/additional callers who stated they observed a black male, approx. 5’10 and 180 lbs, dark complexion, wearing a gray tank top and black cargo shorts lurking around the rear window of a home in the 500 block of Sycamore Drive. The witnesses watched the subject for a short while and called the police when they saw the male crouching near a bush behind the residence. The male then got up and walked northbound on Sycamore Drive. While waiting on the police to arrive, they observed the male coming from the area of Ridgeland Avenue toward Sycamore Drive. Witnesses heard the male saying “I got to go to work” repeatedly as he was running away and saw that he had a pair of needle nose pliers in his hands.

At 7:31 pm, Decatur Police responded to a call of a male exiting a rear window of a home in the 300 block of Lockwood Terrace. Officers arrived and met with the victim who reported he secured and left his residence at approximately 7:00 pm and had just returned and discovered a pair of gloves that did not belong to him laying on a dog bed in the living room. While conducting a perimeter check of the residence, officers were flagged down by the initial caller (a neighbor who lived behind the victim) who stated he observed a black male, dark complexion, early 20’s, athletic build, with short black hair and wearing a light colored tank top exit the rear window of the residence. The male jumped over the fence into his backyard and he told the male “You don’t want come into this yard, the police are on the way.” The male responded, “Okay” and jumped back over the fence and fled on foot towards Lockwood Terrace. The male was carrying an unknown electronic device. Officers discovered pry marks on the rear window and damage to the window lock. The victim reported a game system missing from his home.

At 11:53 pm, Decatur Police responded to a burglar alarm call in the 300 block of Lockwood Terrace. Officers discovered the rear kitchen window screen removed and the window was closed but the lock mechanism was broken and there were several pry marks on the window. Nothing was taken from the home but the alarm panel and siren were ripped from the wall.