A Fraser man is in jail, accused of smashing his way into a Clinton Township jewelry shop and making off with about $78,000 in gold and diamond jewelry.
Scotty Hester, 54, faces a felony charge of breaking and entering a building with intent to commit a theft.
Hester is accused of arriving at Bogazy Fine Jewelry on Gratiot Avenue around 3:22 a.m. on April 9 when he allegedly used an e-bike “with distinctive identifying features” to get to the shop, police said in a press release.
Police allege surveillance footage shows Hester using a tool to punch out the lock on the front door before he entered the showroom. Inside, he allegedly took gold and diamond jewelry from both a display case and an office desk before leaving.
Police said they identified Hester as a person of interest through an investigation utilizing forensic digital analysis and assistance from Birmingham police and the Michigan Department of Corrections.
On Tuesday, Clinton Township police detectives and MDOC parole officers observed Hester arriving at his home, allegedly using the same e-bike used during the break-in, police said.
Hester was arrested and was also found in possession of crack cocaine at the time, police said.
The investigation also linked Hester to similar burglaries in Sterling Heights and Warren, police said, adding that he has an extensive criminal history, including 23 prior felony convictions. Hester is currently on parole for seven prior breaking and entering offenses.
Online court records do not list an attorney for Hester, who was arraigned Thursday in 41-B District Court in Mount Clemens. Magistrate Ryan Zemke set his bond at $250,000.
As of Friday, Hester remains behind bars at the Macomb County Jail, according to online jail records. His next hearing is slated for 8:30 a.m. on May 26. If convicted, he could spend up to 10 years in prison.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Fraser man accused in $78K theft from Clinton Township jeweler: Police
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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