Security alarms tipped off Fargo police to two separate burglaries early Wednesday, leading to the arrest of two men, one of whom recently served jail time for burglarizing a West Fargo pharmacy.
Travis Aaron Vigen, 22, of Fargo was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property in connection with a burglary at the M&H convenience store at 1602 Main Ave.
There was no indication that Vigen was linked to a recent rash of burglaries in Fargo, Sgt. Mike Bernier said.
"But certainly we're looking into that further," he said.
Vigen was arrested in March in connection with burglaries at the Frontier Pharmacy and Liquor Lodge in West Fargo.
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He was later sentenced to one year and one day with all but 34 days suspended for a period of two years of supervised probation. He was given credit for 34 days previously spent in custody and ordered to pay more than $2,200 in restitution after pleading guilty to two felony charges related to the pharmacy burglary, according to court records and Forum archives.
"He was given a light sentence because he had a limited criminal history and he indicated that he was addressing the substance abuse problem that caused him to commit the burglaries," Assistant State's Attorney Cherie Clark said.
Officers responded at 1:59 a.m. Wednesday to the alarm at the M&H store.
The store's glass door was broken, and officers also noticed a glass door broken next door at Royal Liquors, 1606 Main Ave, Bernier said.
As police searched the buildings, an officer overhead an argument at an apartment house at nearby 101 16th St. S., Bernier said.
Officers investigated the disturbance and found two cash register tills outside of the house, as well as alcohol, he said. There was "very little" money inside the registers, he said.
Police spoke to one of the men involved in the argument, who turned out to be the Vigen's roommate, Bernier said.
"The roommate certainly didn't want anything to do with it, and that's what led the officer to believe that this guy was involved," he said.
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Officers searched the house and found Vigen and arrested him, Bernier said.
Kim Robinson, manager of M&H, said the door and cash registers were replaced and the store was open for business as usual at 5 a.m. It closed at 11 p.m. Wednesday, and a surveillance camera caught the suspect on video, she said.
In the other burglary incident, Jaime R. Torres, 48, no permanent address, was arrested after officers were dispatched to an alarm at 1:06 a.m. at Graybar Electric, 2805 3rd Ave. N.
When officers arrived, they found the suspect trying to exit the building through a broken window, Bernier said.
Vigen is being charged with two counts of burglary and expected to appear in court today.
Forum reporter Brittany Lawonn contributed to this report.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
