Jacksonville Police Arrest Man Linked to Seven Downtown Burglaries

Jacksonville police detectives arrested Miles D. Pelehowski, 29, at 7:05 p.m. on April 1, closing an active investigation into seven burglaries that struck four separate blocks in and around downtown Jacksonville during the final days of March and into early April.

Pelehowski, listed as homeless in police records, faces seven counts of burglary and at least one count of criminal damage to property. All seven incidents targeted small businesses, according to the Jacksonville Police Department's Investigations Division, which led the probe.

The break-ins concentrated in the commercial core of downtown. Officers documented incidents in the 200 block of South Mauvaisterre Street, the 200 block of Sandy Street, the 500 block of North Main Street, and two separate break-ins in the 200 block of West Morgan Street. That geographic cluster gave investigators a pattern to work.

The case was built on a combination of business camera footage and community tips. Investigations Division Commander Kyle Chumley said detectives linked surveillance recordings and witness accounts to Pelehowski's appearance and movements before officers located him on the evening of April 1. The department credited downtown business owners who turned over footage and community members who shared observations with directly accelerating the identification.

Formal charging documents and arraignment dates will be set through the Morgan County court system as prosecutors review the investigative file.

CHECK YOUR RISK

The same tools that built this case can protect other businesses before the next incident. Business owners along South Mauvaisterre, Sandy Street, North Main, and West Morgan Street who have not already contacted police about potential losses or related damage are encouraged to do so now. Camera footage is typically overwritten within 24 to 72 hours depending on the system, so preserving recordings at the first sign of suspicious activity is critical.

Anyone with footage relevant to this case or who suspects a related loss is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department's Investigations Division or Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass Counties. The Pelehowski investigation demonstrated a principle investigators frequently cite in smaller cities: resident and business-owner submissions, even from modest systems pointed at alleys and parking lots, can close property-crime cases faster than any single law enforcement resource.

With seven counts now moving toward court, prosecutors will determine whether evidence supports additional charges. Any stolen property recovered in connection with the arrest may be returned to affected businesses once catalogued as part of the case file.