CRUZ BAY — A Florida man was arrested for the Christmas Eve burglary and New Year’s Day attempted burglary of the Tap Room in St. John, authorities said.
Alan Beyer, 27, of Florida, was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary; buying, receiving or possession of stolen property and grand larceny. the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The theft of $750 from the business’s cash register was reported to police at the Leander Jurgen Command on December 28, according to documents filed in Superior Court.
Surveillance video viewed by law enforcement on January 3 reportedly showed a man entering the Mongoose Junction business through a window. Once inside, Beyer was seen removing drinks from a refrigerator behind the bar before approaching the cash register where he appeared “to be placing something in his pockets.”
VIPD mug shot of Alan Beyer, 27, of Florida.
In a criminal complaint filed in court, Virgin Islands Police Department Detective Jermaine Carty wrote that he recognized the man in the video as Alan Beyer. The man then left through the same window.
Separately, officers were dispatched to the Tap Room on New Year’s Day in response to reports that someone had tried to break in. A part-owner of the business told officers that he observed a man — whom he identified as Beyer — trying to enter through a bathroom vent, according to the complaint.
Police made contact with Beyer on Friday. He was arrested and, unable to post a bail of $25,000, turned over to the Corrections Bureau.
Beyer’s advice-of-rights hearing was scheduled for Monday.
At 7:24 a.m. on December 24, the owner of the Tap Room contacted the 911 Emergency Call Center to report that his business had been burglarized, police said.
“The owner stated that a Caucasian male entered his establishment and removed money along with other items from his business,” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said.
A police investigation revealed that Beyer was responsible for each crime, according to Dratte.
Officers of the Leander Jurgen Command met with Beyer and took him into official custody without incident at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, the police spokesman said.
This case is currently under active investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Anyone with any information regarding this crime is urged to contact 911, Criminal Investigation Bureau Detective J. Carty 340-693-8880 ext. 5207 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-8477.