A man and a woman allegedly broke into three buildings near Appalachian Power Park on Tuesday night.
Police arrested George Jeffery, 29, on Wednesday for the break-ins at Smith Floor Covering Distributors, No Limit Fitness and an adjacent building, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities searched into the evening for Elizabeth Sayre, 21, who also has an unrelated warrant for her arrest in Kanawha County, a news release stated.
The pair filled a shopping cart with more than $1,000 in stolen goods, said Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives for the Charleston Police Department, as he addressed reporters.
Jeffery and Sayre abandoned the goods, along with their personal backpacks, at the fitness center, he said.
Cooper said both suspects are homeless, and that both are "well known" to local police.
He went on to emphasize the department's concern with transient people who have "a propensity for crime."
"To just say 'homeless' I wouldn't say is accurate because you may run into someone who is down on their luck, who's trying to keep their family afloat," Cooper said.
Employees at Manna Meal and Covenant House identified the suspects. Cooper said. Investigators also reviewed surveillance videos recorded throughout the businesses.
Some men and women, he said, take advantage of resources meant for "people who are down on their luck."
He said people who struggle with addiction, especially those with an extensive criminal history, often visit Charleston for its abundant supply of heroin.
On Wednesday, police arrested Jeffery on three counts of breaking and entering. He remained at South Central Regional Jail in lieu of a $30,000 bail on Wednesday evening.
Reach Giuseppe Sabella at giuseppe.sabella@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5189 or follow @Gsabella on Twitter.