VALDOSTA — A suspect has been arrested in connection with the burglary of four city schools earlier in the month.

Jackie Major, 24, faces several charges, including six counts of felony criminal damage to property in the second degree; three felony counts of possession of tools for the commission of a crime; four felony counts of burglary, second degree; one count felony theft by taking — motor vehicle; two misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass — damage to property; and violation of probation, according to the Valdosta Police Department Friday.

At approximately 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, Valdosta police officers and detectives received a tip that a suspect with multiple active warrants connected to the burglary of several Valdosta area schools, was at a hotel within the 1800 block of North Ashley Street, according to the report.

Major was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Lowndes County Jail, according to police. 

During the past month, Valdosta police officers and detectives have investigated a total of five burglaries that have happened at the following schools: Valdosta High School, Valdosta Middle School, W.G. Nunn Elementary School and J.L. Newbern Middle School, according to the report.

For example, at approximately 7 a.m., Dec. 1, J.L. Newbern Middle School staff observed a forced entry to the building, a shattered window, and Dec. 29 an arrest was made in connection to the incident, according to a Valdosta police report. 

Valdosta police officers searched Newbern and located damage in multiple places consistent with the intent to steal property, the report stated. The crime scene was sealed off and additional assistance from crime-scene technicians from the Valdosta/Lowndes Regional Crime Lab was requested; VPD burglary detectives also responded to continue investigating. In addition to physical evidence, surveillance footage was retrieved from the incident, according to police.  

“The resulting arrest in this case is the end result of countless man hours by the Valdosta Police Department’s Bureau of Investigations burglary unit,” VPD Lt. Adam Bembry said. 

The report stated, in each case, offenders have forcibly entered the schools and have stolen various items from inside, and not only have the offenders looted property from the schools, but their actions have caused property damage to the schools that have resulted in costly repairs, according to police.

Kimberly Cannon is a Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.