A Bell Island man has been arrested and charged in connection with a string of break and enters in the community.

RCMP arrested 38-year-old Francis Thomas Mercer after an alarm sounded at a business on Main Street in Wabana around 5:30 Thursday morning. Police say a small amount of cash was taken and there was extensive damage to the interior of the business.

Patrol officers found Mercer a short time later, and arrested him in connection with seven local break-ins which occurred between August and October – as well as a number of unrelated violent crimes.

He’s now facing 37 charges, including the following:

• Assault – 3 counts,
• Assault with a weapon – 4 counts,
• Forcible confinement – 3 counts,
• Uttering threats against a person – 2 counts,
• Break and enter, residence – 4 counts,
• Break and enter, business – 3 counts,
• Disguise with intent to commit offence,
• Failure to comply with Probation Order – 7 counts,
• Mischief under $5,000 – damage to property – 4 counts,
• Theft over $5,000,
• Theft under $5,000 – 4 counts,
• Possession of break-in instruments