Officers make arrest in vehicle break-ins

WAXAHACHIE – Waxahachie Police Department arrested Patraic LaDrue Beecham, 41, for breaking into two cars on the school parking lot at the 200 block of Broadhead Road Thursday, Dec. 9.

According to police reports, both cars had windows broken out and a GPS navigation unit was stolen from one of the vehicles with the owner able to provide a serial number to the unit for tracking.

Later in the evening at 11:30 p.m., Waxahachie PD received a call advising of a possible shoplifter inside Walgreens at the 1200 block of Ferris Ave.

Upon approach, Beecham had a GPS unit inside his coat pocket matching the same serial number as the one previously stolen just hours earlier.

According to police reports, Beecham ran when the officer on duty tried to arrest him.

Beecham, of Waxahachie, ended up giving up on Sycamore Street and became more compliant.

A Walgreens representative said Beecham was not the same man who they thought was shoplifting in the store.  

This person apparently absconded before any of the officers arrived on scene.  

Waxahachie PD detectives will be checking store video to determine who that person was according to Lt. Todd Woodruff.

Beecham, 42, was charged and arrested for theft of property less than $1,500 two or more convictions (felony) and evading arrest or detention, a class B misdemeanor, with bonds totaling $10,000.