Man Charged with Breaking Into Fumigated Homes

St. Petersburg Police have charged a man with six counts of residential burglary after he allegedly broke into several tented fumigated homes. 

Police arrested Christopher Alexander, 25, Monday after responding to a burglary in the 4200 block of 32nd Avenue North. 

According to police, a resident at the home saw Alexander attempting to break into his house through the back door.

As the officers arrived on the scene, police said Alexander fled and entered the garage of another residence down the street attempting to hide from the police.

A K-9 officer tracked him to the garage, where he was found hiding in the rafters.

Police said Alexander became a suspect in the tented home burglaries after his wife was arrested for allegedly selling some of the stolen items to an antique store. 

Over the previous five months, police said 12 residences that have been tented by various pest control companies have been burglarized. 

Alexander is charged with six counts of residential burglary with three of those cases being to tented residences, police said.

According to authorities, Alexander admitted his participation some of the burglaries, but not all 12.

Alexander told police he would break into the fumigated homes, but would have his face covered with a painters mask to protect himself.

Detectives are also looking for a co-defendant who they believe participated with Alexander in several of the burglaries. He has been identified as Michael Murphy, 36 and his current whereabouts are unknown. 

Murphy is 5-foot-10, 145 pounds with red hair and brown eyes. Police said Murphy has a tattoo of a tiger on the inside of his left forearm and one of a dragon on his right. 

St. Petersburg Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating Murphy. Anyone with information can call the non-emergency number at 727-893-7780, Text-A-Tip to 727-420-8911 or leave a confidential tip at 727-892-5000.