A man believed to be the serial burglar plaguing Central District businesses along E Union was caught in the act early Wednesday morning and taken into custody by police.

A business owner from the commercial cluster around 22nd Ave and E Union tells CHS he was calling 911 about yet another break-in at an area business Wednesday around 1 AM when the suspect casually strolled out of his latest target:

When I was peering in at the break there was shuffling inside so I called 911 right away. While on the phone with the dispatcher, the door opened and he walked right past me with a full pack. He ducked between a couple of houses and a bunch of patrol cars arrived about a couple minutes later. They found him at 22nd & Union carrying cameras from the shop. Apparently he has also broken into Hollow Earth Radio and had been packing up audio gear into a suitcase. We were there til about 2:15 giving statements and screwing the window shut etc. So glad he was actually caught because he has been in and out of everybody’s places so much lately. We had kicked him out of the cinema several times for hanging around at weird times and poking into drawers etc. This was the 2nd time he had hit Rare Medium and Hollow Earth.

Business owners believe the man is the same suspect involved in this Madrona burglary. Police took the suspect into custody in December but he has apparently been back in action in the area. We’re asking SPD for more information on the suspect and will follow up with more on any possible charges.