Suspected cigarette burglar nabbed

OREM — Police arrested a suspected serial burglar who they say filled bags and shopping carts with thousands of dollars in cigarettes then sold them to the homeless.

Orem Police began investigating after a man entered an Albertsons grocery store at 1565 N. State at about 2 a.m. on June 2 and loaded nearly $3,000 worth of cigarettes into a plastic garbage bag before leaving.

A month before, American Fork Police got a delayed report of a man breaking into an Albertsons after hours and loading up two shopping carts with cigarettes worth more than $7,000, according to a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court.

Similar break-ins were reported at stores in Salt Lake County, police said, including Draper, Holladay, Kearns, Salt Lake City and Taylorsville.

After media reported the Orem crime, several individuals recognized the man from the surveillance photos and called police, said Orem Police Lt. Gary Downey.

After a bit more investigation, Orem officers served a search warrant on the man's West Valley City home and arrested him Tuesday for investigation of theft and burglary.

Although the man didn't want to talk with police, Downey said they learned from other individuals that he had been selling the cigarettes, mainly to people at the Rescue Mission in Salt Lake City.

Dale Joseph Frenette, 53, is being held in the Utah County Jail on $20,000 cash or bail bond.

Downey said they're still investigating, but believe Frenette's arrest will help solve several other cases.