A friend told me Monday morning that a string of Cantrell Road area businesses — Steinmart shopping center, Purple Cow, Papa John’s and Arkansas Burger — may have been hit by burglars Sunday night. I’m embarrassed to say I blew it off. Serial burglaries are, regrettably, not so rare in Little Rock, despite pronouncements about our advancements in public safety. (Coincidentally, somebody shared a blog post with me the other day from what’s reputed to be the account of a Little Rock cop. He said he wouldn’t live in the city because there was too much crime.)

Anyway …

Forbidden Hillcrest reports on its Facebook page that the crime waved extended to more businesses as well as familiar auto break-ins. It reports Charlotte John Realty, Boulevard Bread, Terry’s Finer Wines, Kraftco, the R Street Shell, Arline’s and others were on the list of targets.

The good news: Forbidden Hillcrest says suspects are in custody.


UPDATE: LRPD says a report will be coming, but a friend thinks the arrests might be the result of some brave action by bakers at Rosalia’s in Hillcrest. A window was broken in there early this morning. Bakers were already at work. One called the police; one gave chase. Before it was over, police had four people in custody who were suspected in multiple other break-ins.

UPDATE II: LRPD confirms that the call from Rosalia’s led to the arrests. A description of the van led to a police stop and the arrest of four people, one a juvenile. Two of the suspects live at 6900 Cantrell, an apartment complex, and another on Beacon. The three are males, aged 18 to 21. Police said they expect charges in as many as 30 commercial burglaries along Cantrell, Kavanaugh and nearby areas over the last couple of weeks. Initial charges cover Rosalia’s, Papa John’s, Evolve, All Aboard Restaurant, Kraftco, a Comet Cleaners, Dam Goode Pies and a McDonald’s. In each case — and others — crooks broke a door or window, stole a cash register or cash box and fled.