With the help of Niles and South Bend area pawn shops, investigators announced the end of a three-month investigation into several area incidents of breaking and entering and the arrest of two Berrien County men.

According to Det. Lt. David Chandler with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the arrests of Timothy Streffling of Galien and Bryan Adams of the Benton Harbor area came Friday afternoon.

Chandler said Deputies Rich Albers and Jennifer Newman had been investigating numerous barn and garage breaking and entering incidents in the Weesaw and Galien Township areas.

Information acquired through pawn shops in Niles Township and the South Bend area led deputies to three suspects, apparently pawning some of the stolen items.

Early Friday morning Deputies Albers and Newman stopped Streffling, 49, and living in the Galien area. With him was a female passenger who was not arrested at the time.

Streffling was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant, charged with receiving and concealing stolen property under $200.

Following the traffic stop, deputies interviewed Streffling who cooperated with authorities and gave permission for a search of his residence.

Deputies recovered stolen tools allegedly taken from one of the barn break-ins under investigation.

Adams, 39, the second person wanted for questioning in this investigation, was also arrested by Berrien County Sheriff Deputies, Friday afternoon while in the Benton Township area.

Adams was arrested under a felony probation warrant.

Information given to Berrien County Detectives, and the Berrien County Road Patrol deputies from the subjects arrested, led Investigators to four locations, both in Berrien County and St. Joseph County, Ind. for the recovery of approximately $10,000 worth of stolen items, which included:

(3) Stihl chain saws
(3) Husqvarna chain saws
John Deere power washer
Dewalt miter saw
(2) Stihl weed cutters
Paslode cordless framing nailer
Craftsman Multi Drill set in a case
Other Dewalt power tools
(4) Astro pneumatic air rackets
Circular saws
Husqvarna leaf blower
Stihl Back-Pack leaf blower
Craftsman stand-up air compressor
Coleman portable generator
Century mig wire welder
Portable Reddy Heater 155,000 BTU.

Further charges will be forwarded to the Berrien County on the above subjects and this investigation is continuing.

So far, Chandler said the Sheriff’s Department has cleared up burglaries in Three Oaks and Weesaw and the Lake Township area.

Agencies assisting into this investigation include the Three Oaks Police Department, Baroda
Lake Township Police Department and Michigan State Police, Bridgman post.