Raheen Clinton Clay, 24, was arrested on June 9 in Chicago by Chicago’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit. Police from multiple jurisdictions tracked Clay down after Wilton Manors police identified him in store surveillance videos.
Charges against Clay include the Wilton Manors burglary cases, a burglary warrant out of Iowa and a probation violation in Illinois.
It was sweet news to Ralph Dumas, whose store To the Moon was struck twice by the accused burglar. In the first instance, the suspect jimmied the lock on a rear door and took $600 from the cash register. In the second instance, the suspect threw a cement block at a glass door 27 times, cracking the tempered glass but failing to get inside.
Store video shows the man attempting to heave a cement block through the back door of Dumas' business at 2205 Wilton Drive over and over in the wee hours of the morning of June 27.
The same man was also captured on store video early on June 17 rifling through the cash register and making off with $600.
The suspect is also accused of breaking into RockHard Lovestuff at 2205A Wilton Drive next door and stealing cash and merchandise, and attempting —unsuccessfully — to break into the New York Grilled Cheese Co. at 2207 Wilton Drive.
Both incidents were captured on surveillance cameras, which Dumas posted on his store’s Facebook page. The videos went viral.
Dumas attributes the suspect’s arrests partially to the power of social media.
“People kept sharing the videos,” he said.
News of the suspect’s arrest elicited a slew of comments on To the Moon’s Facebook page.
“Donate candy to the detective who cracked the case. Congrats,” posted Sean Parkoff.
“Great job to police in both states,” said Richard Kelley.
“I bet his mom is proud,” wrote Lisa Riviello.
Wrote Sarah Gaynor, “He was very busy! Stupid! Glad they caught this nut.”
Dumas said he’s happy to move on. He said the double break-ins cost him about $3,000.
“It’s a little scary but nothing has happened in 15 years. I think this was an isolated incident,” Dumas said. “It’s better than a bullet in my head.”
