CULLMAN – A rash of recent burglaries was solved after Cullman City Police Department investigators conducted an undercover operation.
Over the last three weeks, multiple thefts from the parking lot of Lowe’s were reported to the CPD. Items reported stolen included various types of power tools. According to a press release from the department, there was video of the suspect committing the thefts and investigators had a description of the vehicle being used.
On the morning of Feb. 8, officers were positioned in locations in and around the Lowe’s parking lot. After the business opened, a vehicle matching the suspect’s was observed driving through the parking lot on multiple occasions. The vehicle would park, but the driver would not enter the business. Eventually the vehicle parked and a white male exited. He was observed by investigators walking around parked vehicles. He then allegedly reached into the bed of a parked vehicle and removed a red bag and placed it into the bed of his vehicle.
The suspect then got in his vehicle and attempted to leave the parking lot. He was stopped by officers and identified as Travis Wayne Evans, 51, of Warrior. The red bag was recovered from his vehicle and found to contain an assortment of power tools. The owner of the tools was located and was able to retrieve his property.
Evans was charged with unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle. He was transported to the Cullman County Detention Center and held on a $5,000 bond.
At the time of his arrest, Evans had active arrest warrants for theft with other agencies. Evans is also on probation for prior theft convictions after being released from state prison in Nov. 2016. Evans will be facing additional charges for the prior thefts.
Sgt. Scott Sanford was the lead investigator and coordinator of the operation. Patrol Officers Jeff Mize and Roy Bates assisted investigators in the operation.
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