An alarm activated at Christopher, Durham, Pepper and Armstrong accounting firm late Saturday led to Athens Police arresting a suspect at Athens Florist on burglary charges a short time later.

Joshua David Brooks, 27, of 413 Elkton Road, was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary Sunday.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said an alarm was activated at CDPA on South Houston Street shortly before midnight.

“When officers arrived they located a window that had been broken,” the chief said. “A short time later Investigator Jim Kennedy located Brooks looking in the windows at Athens Florist. After an interview, Brooks was charged with breaking into Athens Florist Nov. 7 and Nov. 11.”

Johnson said there has not been an arrest in the CDPA case. He said the investigation is ongoing in the case as well as other burglaries in the area, which have occurred over the past couple of months.

Brooks was booked at the Athens Police Department and transported to the Limestone County Jail where he was later released on a $5,000 bail.

Holiday, winter burglaries

Johnson said the department typically sees more burglaries this time of year, especially during the holidays.

He said there are several reasons. First, he believes there are some who don’t have work during cold, rainy weather that tend to look for other ways to make money and make ends meet. Another reason is the holidays is when people tend to have gifts and other items in their homes.

Johnson advises business and homeowners to be sure to lock doors and leave lights on, especially when no one is home. He also encourages neighbors to look out for one another.

“If you notice something strange around a neighborhood or business, give the police a call,” he said.

Johnson said he believes the alarm at CDPA possibly scared whomever was trying to break in the business.

Burglaries usually come in spurts, Johnson said, adding there have been several in the last few weeks.