SILVERHILL, Ala. — Police in Silverhill are hoping that a rash of car break-ins that has plagued the small town over the last several month has now been solved, thanks to the help of some of the victims and other town residents.

“We were able to put together a small task force,” said Silverhill Police Chief Kim Wasdin, “and we also had the help of some of those who had been burglarized over the last few months. We also put together a neighborhood watch, where husbands and wives would take turns watching overnight.”

The investigation has been ongoing for several months, Wasdin said, starting with just a few vehicles, but had escalated over the past few weeks to include a half-dozen to a dozen vehicles per night.

At 1:45 a.m. Monday morning, police apprehended a suspect allegedly in the act of breaking into a vehicle.

Christopher Jerkins, 30, of Silverhill, is currently in the Baldwin County Corrections facility, charged with six counts of theft of property, third degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Several other incidents are currently under investigation which could result in over a dozen felony charges and 20 misdeameanor charges, Wasdin said. Silverhill Police are also working with the State Fire Marshall’s office to investigate a possible connection with current cases they have on file.

The Baldwin County Corrections website lists Jerkins for no less than 19 arrests since April of 1997, including burglary and possession of stolen property charges.

If convicted, Jerkins could serve up to one year in jail for each misdemeanor charge, and up to five years in jail for each felony charge.

Police believe the suspect had broken into about 10 to 15 vehicles the night he was apprehended and were able to seize several items from the suspect’s car that matched the description of items taken. A search of the suspect’s home also netted several items. Wasdin estimates value of the items seized at around $10,000.

Items included electronic equipment, compact discs and disc players, MP3 players, phones, cigarettes, money, along with other items.

“The only things we haven’t recovered are one pocket knife, a cup holder, cell phone and camera equipment valued at over $2,000,” Wasdin said. “Otherwise we have recovered just about everything.”

Wasdin said anyone who has had items stolen within the Silverhill Town limits should contact the police department at 945-5200. Items recovered from the suspect represent just what has been reported stolen within the town limits of Silverhill. Anyone who has had items stolen in the Loxley or Robertsdale should contact their own police departments to file a report.

Wasdin said she wanted to thank the residents of Silverhill for their help in the investigation and said this is s prime example of what can happen when officials and residents work together.

“We are working to set up a permanent neighborhood watch in our community,” she said. “We had an impromtu neighborhood watch set up and just to give you an example of how well it worked, we had unmarked patrols in the area and residents were calling in, not knowing it was us, to report suspicious activity in the area. That’s what we want.”