Suspect In Cary Smash-And-Grab Incidents In Custody

David Patrick Armitage, 31, of Raleigh was charged with four counts of felonious breaking and entering Wednesday in connection with the smash-and-grab burglaries.

When WRAL showed surveillance pictures of a car -- a Jaguar with a leaky transmission -- at one of the scenes of the burglary, an anonymous caller made a call to CrimeStoppers.

Following the tip, Cary police got a warrant to search Armitage's residence. Police found items that were taken from businesses in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wendell and Youngsville.

"Thanks to the media's work in notifying the community, Crime Stoppers further assisted us in bringing the suspect to justice," said Cary police Capt. Dave Wulff. "Raleigh and Apex police departments were also supportive in executing the warrant."

The town of Cary has seen more than 20 burglaries since November. The most recent burglaries occurred at J&F Gemelli Hair Salon, B Roman Skin & Body Therapy and Java Jive, all located at 2425 Kildaire Farm Road on Friday.

Armitage was arrested following a high-speed police chase in Henderson. Armitage was stopped at a traffic stop on northbound Interstate 85 Friday. Officers found a wooden cash register drawer in the back seat. When asked about the cash drawer, Armitage sped off, leading authorities on a chase at speeds up to 120 mph.

As Armitage's vehicle approached the Virginia state line, a tire blew out and the car wrecked, hitting the cable barrier in the median near the Virginia border in Warren County.

Armitage was later arrested, but the passenger in the car with him at the time was able to escape authorities. He was described as a black male with one black shoe, wearing a grey, long-sleeve shirt and black jeans.

Authorities later learned that the cash drawer had been taken from a store in Henderson. Armitage was charged with several traffic offenses, including felony speeding to elude arrest and possession of stolen property.