FERRIDAY, La. &045; A parolee has been arrested in connection with a two-week string of business burglaries in Concordia Parish, authorities said.

Frederick Samuels, 43, of 315 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Ferriday, was booked into the Concordia Parish Jail Friday on ten counts of simple burglary following a joint investigation involving several area law enforcement agencies.

More than $5,000 in cash was stolen in the break-ins, most of which were committed at night with the burglar gaining entrance to the businesses through the roof, according to a press release from the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Kathleen Stevens, a spokesperson for the department, said Samuels confessed to his involvement in the burglaries, and more arrests could be forthcoming in the case.

Samuels also faces a theft by fraud charge in connection with a carpentry job that he allegedly left unfinished in Vidalia, as well as parole violation charges.

Information regarding Samuels’ prior criminal history was not available on Saturday, but Stevens confirmed that the suspect was under parole supervision.

Samuels’ is allegedly responsible for recent break-ins at Budget Build Lumber and Supply, Family Dollar, Brakenridge Furniture, Concordia Drug, U-Pak, Citgo and the 84 Quick Stop in Ferriday, as well as Handi-Pak in Ridgecrest and Tobacco Mart and Concordia Lumber in Vidalia.

In addition to the cash, a small amount of cigarettes and clothing were also reported stolen in some of the burglaries.

A significant amount of property damage was also reported in each incident.

Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell praised investigators from local, parish and state agencies who assisted in the investigation.

&uot;This was a completely cooperative effort.

It was everyone’s consistent, hard work that resulted in breaking these cases,&uot; Maxwell said.