LINDEN – City police Monday apprehended Reginald Edwards, the alleged culprit behind a break-in at Ace Hardware earlier this month.

“We figured out exactly who he was. He was actually doing community service for the court already,” Linden City Police Chief Scott McClure said. “Detective Dexter Watters and Officer Brandon Paulk went out to speak to him at the city shop and were going to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he saw them driving up and he decided to run. They caught him at his grandmother’s house over on Lucas Street.”

Edwards, 23, is a Linden resident and is charged with Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle stemming from a previous incident, as well as Third Degree Burglary resulting from the break-in at Ace Hardware.

“He took a tool kit. I think the value was approximately $200,” McClure said of a burglary that took place approximately 2 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

“He may have been in there 10 to 15 seconds, got the tool kit and then straight out. He did maybe $50 or $60 worth of damage.”

Edwards also faces charges of Attempting to Elude Police Officers, Reckless Driving and Evading Arrest.

Police are still investigating a burglary at Marengo Propane which took place around the same time.