PHOTO: Billy Edward Blake was arrested for yet another string of burglaries earlier this month. Blake had already been arrested in October for breaking in to Henagar Junior High and again in December for breaking in to Flat Rock School. (Fort Payne Police Department)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Serial Burglar Billy Blake was arrested for yet another string of break-ins; most recently, targeting storage units in Fort Payne.
Blake was arrested in mid-October, when Valley Head Police Chief Nick Welden and Henagar Chief Randell Smith worked together to solve a break-in that occurred at Henagar Middle School. $3300.00 had been stolen that the Henagar Junior High Beta Club had saved to go to the state convention.
Approximately two months later (early December), Jackson County investigators charged Blake with a break-in that occurred at Flat Rock School.
Fast forward to last week, and Blake is at it again. Maybe this time Blake will stay in jail.
Detective Jim Phillips, of the Fort Payne Police Department stated: "On February 3, 2018 Officers responded to the Harris mini storage located at 3018 Greenhill Blvd NW, after a witness was observing a white male attempting to break into the mini storage units called 911.
When Officers arrived on scene the witness stated that the white male had gotten into a vehicle, a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Officer made contact with the white male and identified him as Billy Edward Blake, age 41 of Fort Payne.
Officers discovered burglary tools located inside the vehicle and after talking to the witness, Blake was placed under arrest for Possession of Burglary Tools. He was taken to the Fort Payne City Jail where he was booked.
Investigators continued looking at the evidence and was able to add other charges to Mr. Blake and close a number of cases on the mini storages from units that have been broken into in the Fort Payne area. Mr. Blake’s charges are as follows: Burglary 7 counts, Possession of Burglary tools 2 Counts, Criminal Mischief 3rd 8 Counts, and Attempted Burglary 8 Counts.
Detectives Phillips was assisted by Detectives David Davis, Mike Grant and Andy Hairston in the investigation.
