A Port Charlotte man was arrested Tuesday after investigators identified him from a pair of Oakley sunglasses he left at a home he allegedly burglarized, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
Chad Michael Hayes, 26, 3500 block of Depew Ave., Port Charlotte, faces charges of dealing in stolen property, three counts of armed burglary, two counts of unarmed burglary, two counts of grand theft of a firearm, four counts of grand theft, two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and four counts of violation of probation after he allegedly burglarized four homes in the Charlotte and Englewood areas between April 10 and April 16.
All four of the burglaries had similar methods of entry, according to the report.
Detectives pinpointed Hayes as a suspect after he left a pair of black sunglasses at the home he allegedly burglarized on the 4000 block of Elvington Road in Port Charlotte on April 11. The victim reported several items missing, including a diamond ring, laptop, several gift cards and $500 in cash, but said she found a pair of sunglasses.
Crime scene specialists obtained a partial palm print from the lens that matched Hayes’ in a computer database, a report stated.
Detectives searched another database to see if Hayes had pawned any items stolen from another burglary, which also occurred April 11, on the 7400 block of Clayton Street in Englewood, where he reportedly stole a handgun, tools and scuba gear. From the database, detectives learned that Hayes allegedly pawned several power tools stolen from the Clayton Street residence at a pawnshop in Naples.
After investigating those two burglaries, detectives gathered enough evidence to arrest Hayes. He was located April 22 at a drug and alcohol recovery home on the 1900 block of Dorion Street in Port Charlotte. There, detectives noted scuba gear similar to what was reported stolen from the second house lying in a common room at the facility, a report states.
At the time of the arrest, Hayes had currency from Trinidad and Tobago in his possession, which served as evidence to connect him to yet another burglary that occurred April 16 at a residence on the 13300 block of Blytheville Ave., Port Charlotte, where a handgun, laptop, watch and antique coins and currency were stolen. The victim told authorities the foreign notes were among those stolen from the Blytheville residence.
Hayes also is a suspect in another burglary, which occurred April 13 on the 23300 block of Roundtree Ave., Port Charlotte, and an attempted burglary April 15 on the 15100 block of Community Ave., Port Charlotte.
He is being held at the Charlotte County Jail without bond.