Man Charged in 6 Cumming Business Burglaries, Thefts

Forsyth County authorities have identified and arrested a Gwinnett County man they say is responsible for five of a number of recent burglaries in Cumming and the county.

Jason David Farris, 29, of Lawrenceville, was arrested Monday in Sandy Springs and charged with five counts of burglary and one count of theft by taking.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office spokesman Doug Rainwater said Farris targeted convenience stores and gas stations, taking petty cash and lottery tickets, the latter of which would ultimately lead to his arrest, reports Access North Georgia.

Farris allegedly took lottery tickets during a burglary and cashed them out before the store opened and employees realized they had been stolen. Authorities distributed a still shot from surveillance video of Farris getting cash for the tickets, and tipsters began to call, many of them giving the same name.

Another man likely committed eight of the 14 burglaries in Cumming during the prior three weeks. Authorities say he did so in one night, Oct. 9.

The second burglar, whom police have yet to identify, targeted business on Atlanta Highway and left a signature—all eight of the business' front door locks were punched out in the same manner, reports northfulton.com. Rainwater said small dollars left at the businesses overnight were taken during the burglaries.

That investigation reaches into Johns Creek and Gwinnett County, as businesses in those jurisdictions recently have been burglarized, with their door locks punched out. 

"Retail burglaries typically occur at night and/or after regular business hours," according to a Safe City publication, above, on the Urban Institute's website. "In most cases, burglars enter through doors or windows and leave before police or security are able to respond."

Having trouble viewing the publication, "Preventing Retail Burglary?"  Click here.

Most burglars are opportunistic and select stores located in isolated areas or those known to have poor security features, such as low lighting, insufficient locks, no window bars, or lack of formal security systems. 

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