Three recent burglaries which occurred over a nine-day period have been linked by Richmond police to a one man “crime spree” and the public is being asked for any information that may link him to other thefts.
John Rucker, 46, of Rosedale Avenue was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of second-degree burglary and theft by deception over $300 in relation to three separate crimes.
The crime spree began on Sept. 16 when Rucker allegedly broke into a residence on Farmington Court and stole approximately $32,000 worth of jewelry.
Rucker also is allegedly connected with a Sept. 22 residential burglary on Whispering Woods Drive in which a ring and bracelet, valued at $4,000, were stolen.
Meanwhile, police were making a case against Rucker, officials said.
“Detectives investigating the cases developed information from a witness in the area of one of the burglaries that led to the identification of Rucker as a suspect,” Sgt. Willard Reardon said.
At one time, Rucker was contacted by telephone and urged to surrender, but he failed to come forward, Reardon said.
Another burglary was committed on Sept. 24 on Breck Avenue in which numerous items of jewelry were stolen, the value of which has yet to be determined.
Shortly thereafter, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division received information that Rucker was at Gem-Ray Jeweler in Richmond Plaza, possibly attempting to dispose of stolen goods.
“Detectives responded to the area and located Rucker inside the Kroger store, where he was detained,” Reardon said. “A search of his person produced many of the items of jewelry that had been stolen from the Breck Avenue residence only hours earlier.”
Detectives also were able to recover a number of items of jewelry from the first two burglaries at another local jewelry store where the items had been sold by Rucker, Reardon said.
Rucker is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center in lieu of $20,000 cash bond.
Detective still are in search of the vehicle Rucker may have driven while committing some of the burglaries, Reardon said.
It is described as a 1988 Toyota passenger car, light blue or gray in color, with a loud muffler.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle or who may have been the victim of a burglary in which such a vehicle was involved, are asked to call the Richmond Police Criminal Investigations Division at 623-8911.
Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@richmondregister.com or by phone at 624-6694 or 893-2341.
Local News
Police arrest man in recent burglary spree
- Local News
-
-
‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
Special Olympics return for 18th year at EKU
Next weekend, the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games return to Eastern Kentucky University campus. This is the 18th consecutive year EKU has hosted the event.
The games will be Friday through June 2. About 1,300 athletes will compete this year. -
Assault charges reduced, dismissed by grand jury
Two men arrested in connection with serious assaults had their charges reduced, and in one case dismissed, by a Madison grand jury.
Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
Dump of the Day
The Dump of the Day is a recurring series the newspaper publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Page A7 in Sunday's paper to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Paradise Cove open through Labor Day
Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
-
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
-
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
