Cops: Chester business district serial burglar busted
CHESTER » An alleged serial burglar who was targeting the city’s business district is off the streets and behind bars, charged in four break-ins dating back to early May, according to police and court documents.
Malik Abdullah Ricks, 35, is being held at the county prison in lieu of posting bail, which was set at 10 percent of $100,000 in one of the cases, and $25,000 cash in the other three, according to online court records.
The businesses targeted were EZ Bargain, Kim’s Grocery and Boost Mobile, the latter of which was hit twice for a whopping loss of nearly $20,000 in electronic devices alone. “Obviously, we are looking to see if there are any more incidents,” city Police Chief James Nolan IV said Friday. “We are aware of the plight of the business community and we are working to keep the Center City Business District clean.”
Initially identified through video surveillance as a suspect in three of the cases, Ricks was arrested July 17 by city Officer Donald Jackson.
According to Nolan, city Detective Victor Heness was in the process of preparing warrants for Ricks’ arrest when he notified officers that Ricks was wanted for burglary and related offenses. Ricks was later charged in a fourth case which occurred May 8 and actually was the first in the spree of break-ins- based on a fingerprint.
Heness had recognized Ricks when he reviewed surveillance footage of a suspect provided by the owners of both Kim’s Grocery and Boost Mobile, both located in the 700 block of Avenues of the States, the affidavits states.
According to documents:
• May 7: The owner of a store, identified by police as EZ Bargain in the 600 block of Avenue of the States, received a call from his alarm company stating there was activation in the rear of his store. Police were dispatched and checked the charging area, but officers did not find anything suspicious and the building appeared to be secure. But when the owner entered the store on the morning of May 8, he discovered that the cash register had been damaged and the safe on the ground had been forced open. The owner called police and Officer William Casey responded to the store at 9:40 a.m. on May 8. At that time, Casey noticed large amounts of cash on the floor, mostly still in deposit envelopes. At that time, the owner estimated that $500 was missing. Officer William Swanson subsequently lifted a fingerprint from the cash register drawer – that print was later matched to Malik’s right index finger.
• July 14: Officer Renia Singleton responded to Boost Mobile in the 700 block of Avenue of the States shortly after 10 a.m. for a report of a burglary discovered. The officer spoke with the owner and an employee. The employee said he closed the store on July 13 about 6:15 p.m. and at that time, the property was secured. While taking the report, Singleton saw damage to the backroom wall and found a hammer lying on the floor. At that time, the owner told the officer $900 and 26 smartphones valued at $15,130 were missing. Still on location, Singleton spoke to the owner of Kim’s Grocery in the 700 block of Avenue of the States who said he, too, discovered that he had been burglarized. The store owner said he reviewed surveillance video from his store, which showed an unknown black male “come from the basement of his property.” Though nothing was reported missing, the owner said the intruder broke the surveillance camera with a hammer. The grocery store owner said the intruder entered the adjacent business, Boost Mobile, though an access door that both businesses share.
• July 16: Singleton responded to Boost Mobile for a report of a burglary discovered. While the owner discovered the burglary about 8:30 on July 16, he said he secured the property on July 15, about 6:30 p.m. The owner told police $100 was missing from the register. Store video surveillance showed an unknown male with a trash bag entering the property and placing electronics in the bag. Thirty-six items valued over $4,300 were reported missing.
• Also on July 16, Singleton spoke to the owner of Kim’s Grocery. The owner reported securing the property on July 15, about 9 p.m. Singleton reviewed surveillance footage, which showed an unknown male enter from the rear basement door. Reported missing by the grocer was $100 from the register and a 42inch television that had been mounted to a wall. When Heness reviewed the surveillance video from both businesses, he recognized the image of the suspect in the footage as Malik Ricks from “numerous dealings in the past.”
Ricks is charged with multiple counts of burglary, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property. He is listed to appear for a preliminary hearing in Magisterial District Judge Dawn Vann’s court on Aug. 15.
City officers Frank Light, Jeffrey Linowski and William Murphy assisted in the investigations.