Suspect caught breaking into vehicles on car lot: Police

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man accused of breaking into several cars at a car lot in the Fox Meadows area is now in jail.

Robert Watkins, 40, is charged with two counts of burglary of a vehicle, criminal impersonation, and criminal trespass.

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According to Memphis Police, around 5 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a prowler call at Discount Auto Memphis on South Mendenhall Road.

The security guard at the business said he saw the suspect, later identified as Watkins, come onto the lot after business hours. That is when the suspect was caught breaking into unlocked vehicles and taking items out of them.

Watkins was later detained when officers saw him walking northbound on South Mendenhall Road. Police say he had two toolboxes with various tools inside.

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When police asked the suspect for his name, he gave them a false name and age three different times before telling the truth.

The suspect told police that he wanted to put the items back in exchange for not going to jail because he was already on probation in Mississippi.

Watkins was arrested and taken to 201 Poplar for booking and processing.

Robert Watkins is being held in jail on a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.

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“We need more patrol around the Memphis area we need more police. What we have is not enough,” said Muhammad Hajjeh, Discount Auto Memphis manager.

Hajjeh says what bothers him the most is that there’s a police station right across the street, yet this lot continues to be targeted by thieves.

“We called before we spoke to the chief over there about what’s going on and nothing is changing,” Hajjeh said.

This is the latest in a string of break-ins here. Another video shows thieves driving cars off the lot. Hajjeh says sometimes they don’t get their cars back and sometimes they are returned completely wrecked.

The owner also expressed concern for the safety of the security guards, saying confronting the thieves could be dangerous.

“Unfortunately many of these teenagers have guns and weapons. No one is willing to risk their lives,” said Baha Hajjeh, Discount Auto Memphis owner.

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