LAPLACE — A Norco man wanted by St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives in connection with the burglary of a LaPlace business has been arrested in Kenner on unrelated charges.

St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Jackson Industries on Jaubert Lane in LaPlace Feb. 16 after the owner reported his office and trucks on the property were rummaged through, and checks, a small sum of cash and a safe containing titles for trucks and trailers were reported stolen.

Recorded video surveillance from Jackson Industries revealed a male and a female exited a dark colored vehicle at approximately 2 a.m. Feb. 16 and began looking into trucks. Evidence at the scene linked Chad Cooper, 29, to the burglary, authorities said.

Authorities report Cooper’s last known address is on Marino Drive in Norco.

Cooper tried to cash checks from Jackson Industries at a business in LaPlace Feb. 16 and 18, but the business refused to cash the check each time because the checks were reported stolen. Cooper fled the business each time, authorities said.

Cooper was successful in cashing a stolen check at another business in LaPlace Feb. 17, and Feb. 21 deputies recovered the safe and titles reported stolen in a ditch along Magnolia Avenue in LaPlace.

Based on the investigation, St. John Parish detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Cooper for burglary and criminal damage to property.

Cooper was arrested Thursday by the Kenner Police Department for theft of goods, two counts of simple battery, resisting an officer and several attachments from different law enforcement agencies after Kenner Police Spokesman Lt. Brian McGregor said he attempted to obtain a refund for $72 worth of unpurchased merchandise at a Kenner Wal-Mart.

McGregor said Cooper visited the electronics department of the store, picked up some merchandise and attempted to get a refund for that merchandise, which he never purchased, at the service desk.

Cooper struck a customer and employee when attempting to flee the store, McGregor said, adding he was apprehended at a local fast food establishment the same day as the incident.

Cooper remains incarcerated at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, and St. John Sgt. Dane Clement said Cooper would be booked locally after he is released from custody there.

St. John Parish detectives, who according to authorities consider Cooper a suspect in other recent and local burglaries, are attempting to identify Cooper’s female accomplice in the burglary. No descriptive information on the female accomplice is available, Clement said, adding poor visibility in the video surveillance may be to blame.

Anyone with information regarding the break-in or any other incident involving Cooper are encouraged to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Citizens with information who call Crimestoppers do not have to testify in court and may qualify for a cash reward. Citizens can also submit tips on the Sheriff’s Office website at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.