The University Police Department arrested a Muncie resident Wednesday morning for allegedly stealing 25 bikes from the bike room in Kinghorn Hall.
Charles F. Armstrong, 49, was found by UPD detective David Huff in the Kinghorn bike room with bolt cutters at approximately 9 a.m., according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Huff was looking for a man with specific descriptions based on witness reports. Huff then saw a man who fit the description and was carrying a similar black messenger bag and wearing similar shoes and camouflage pants described by witnesses who observed previous thefts.
Huff approached the man once Cpl. Matt Gaither said he was arriving on the scene.
"We made eye contact, and I saw the suspects hand go inside of the messenger bag," Huff wrote in the arrest report. "I drew my department issued firearm and pointed at Armstrong ordering him to the ground. Armstrong complied with my orders and went to the ground."
Armstrong's bond is set at $125,000. His cell phone, messenger bag, bolt cutters and personal property were impounded to UPD and Delaware County Police Department.
Bob Fey, associate director of Public Safety, said there has been approximately 28 bike thefts this year. Armstrong is being charged with stealing 25 of those.
Armstrong is suspected of stealing bicycles between Aug. 13. and Sept. 16, according to the arrest report. Huff said in the report that the bike thefts typically occurred between 6 a.m. and noon .
Fey said the arrest is an important reminder for students to take bike theft precautions seriously.
"There is a crime prevention element to this thing," he said. "Every bike [stolen] had been secured by cables rather than the good sturdy U-bolt kind of locks. That is very telling."
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