A 23-year-old man has been arrested after he was linked to several broad-daylight car break-ins in the last few days, North Myrtle Beach officials said.
The cases usually also involved credit cards of the break-in victims being used by the thief soon afterwards to buy gasoline and cigarettes, officials said.
Hunter Gray Watts, age 23, of Loris was arrested Thursday for allegedly committing multiple vehicle break-ins in North Myrtle Beach, said Patrick Dowling the spokesman for North Myrtle Beach.
At least one of the car break-ins happened while the victim was on the beach and had parked the vehicle at the beach access, according to reports from the city.
Soon after, the thief would take credit cards and quickly buy things, such as: $53 for Newport cigarettes at a Circle K, $23 for gas, $54 spent at a Tiger Mart and $60 at a Walmart and $17 on gas at a Shell station.
One break-in happened at a movie theater while the victim was watching a film.
Other items taken during the thefts were women’s wallets, an iPhones, cash and some prescription drugs.
Watts has been served with 11 warrants stemming from B&E Auto, Petit Larceny, Financial Card Theft/ Fraud and Malicious Damage.
