Corbin man charged in connection with three convenience store break-ins

A Corbin man was arrested early Thursday morning following and investigation into break-in attempts at three local convenience stores.

Corbin Police have charged Jerrad L. Gilbert, 19, with one count of third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal mischief in connection with the incidents at A to Z Mart on South Main Street, the Sunoco gas station on 18^th Street near Corbin High School, and the tobacco store at the intersection of South Main and South Kentucky Ave.

Corbin Police Lt. Coy Wilson, the department’s public affairs officer, said at approximately 1 a.m., police received reports of activated burglar alarms from A to Z Mart and Sunoco.

When officers arrived, they found windows busted out at each location but no one at the scene.

Video surveillance from the Sunoco and A to Z Mart showed a lone male suspect throwing a large chunk of concrete through the glass doors. However, the alarm sounded and the suspect fled the scene before he could get inside.

Wilson described the suspect as a tall man, wearing jeans, a greenish jacket, and black and gray toboggan.

“He also had black and white shoes with a distinct design,” Wilson said of the suspect adding that he walked with a limp.

After speaking with the owners of the two stores and securing the scene, Wilson said Corporal Wade Mitchell and Officer Shannon Jones were returning to the police station.

As they passed Corbin Tobacco 2, they checked it and discovered it too had been burglarized.

“The burglar had busted out a window to get in,” Wilson said noting the individual had dropped a carton of Marlboro cigarettes and two Juul electronic cigarettes as he attempted to leave the scene, but made off with another carton of Marlboros and four bags of pipe tobacco.

Acting on information provided by one of the store owners, Wilson said Jones stopped a male suspect, later identified as Gilbert, who was riding a bicycle on U.S. 25W in north Corbin near Wallen’s Towing.

“He had the same shoes on, but had changed clothes, and had the same limp,” Wilson said of Gilbert adding that he was initially arrested on an outstanding Laurel County bench warrant.

As part of the investigation, Wilson said officers went to Gilbert’s mother’s residence on Kentucky Ave.

The woman gave officers consent to search and they found the clothes he was seen wearing in the video, along with four bags of pipe tobacco.

“The toboggan was found in the garbage at the residence,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the stolen merchandise was valued at approximately $90 and the damage to the building was estimated at $1,000.

Gilbert is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center.