Surveillance video links man to 10 break-ins near Jacksonville’s 5 Points and beyond, court records show

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Surveillance footage recently captured a man breaking into a Thai restaurant in Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood, part of a series of break-ins that have alarmed local business owners.

Law enforcement has connected 68-year-old Arthur Virgil III to 10 burglary charges, along with two charges related to burglary tools and driving without a license, according to jail and court records.

News4JAX’s Jenese Harris has been following the story for weeks after speaking with business owners frustrated by the recent crime spree. Initially, police believed there were three to five burglaries, but the number has since doubled.

The break-in at Pattaya Thai Jax involved the suspect smashing a glass door and stealing cash from the restaurant’s register. Surveillance video shows the man using a cinder block to break through the front door around 3 a.m. on October 13.

Just minutes later, a similar break-in occurred at Sake House restaurant, where the same method was used to shatter a glass door and gain entry.

Multiple businesses in Jacksonville’s 5 Points neighborhood have also been targeted.

RELATED: 5 Points businesses on high alert after string of recent break ins; JSO investigating

Previous coverage of this story can be watched in the video player below

On October 9, Toscana Little Italy and I&C Cleaners on Hendricks Avenue reported break-ins involving shattered glass doors and stolen money. Surveillance footage from these incidents shows a concrete block being used to break the doors.

BREW Five Points, a popular local coffee shop, was among the businesses affected by the recent crime wave. The shop sustained thousands of dollars in damage but has since reopened.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office data shows several burglaries reported near or in Riverside since September 1.

Virgil was arrested on October 21 and remains in custody without bond. While in jail, he was charged with an additional burglary that allegedly occurred on November 7. The date of that crime is currently unknown.

Virgil is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. His arraignment is scheduled for November 25 at the Duval County Courthouse.

Local businesses remain on high alert as authorities continue investigating the string of break-ins.