A man in a series of burglaries this weekend snuck into the Continuum apartment complex through a trash chute and stole a recycling cart, police reported.
Gainesville Police arrested 40-year-old Titus Smoaks on loitering and prowling charges before adding burglary and grand theft charges, according to an arrest report.
Early Friday, an agent from the complex, located at 425 W. University Ave., called police and said he saw Smoaks enter the chute and steal the cart, which is valued at $630. Video surveillance showed the incident.
The video also showed Smoaks, wearing gold chains and a $100 pendant, walking around other parts of the complex, according to the report.
Surveillance video at a parking garage located at 105 SW Third St. showed Smoaks trying to open a car door then reaching into the bed of the truck on the same day. An officer also spotted Smoaks wearing black rubber gloves pushing on the front window of the Gelato Company, located at 11 SE First Ave.
Officers booked Smoaks into the Alachua County Jail, where he remained in lieu of a $31,000 bond.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 2/17/2014 under the headline "Man steals by way of trash chute"]
