By Joe Bachman
Contributor

BANCROFT — A Black Creek man faces multiple counts of burglary, after breaking into various residences and businesses in the Bancroft-Amherst area.

According to reports, on June 26, 2017, police were called to a business on the 6000 block of County Highway D in Bancroft for a report of a failed break-in, as the intruder never gained access to the building, though signs of attempted entry were found. Left behind was a flashlight, which police would later grab DNA from.

On the same day, another break-in was reported in a garage on Highway 73 in Bancroft, where this time the suspect was successful. Missing items included a chainsaw, screwdrivers, and a generator.

On Aug. 17, a call was made from a business on the 100 block of Main St. in Amherst, where the caller had previously confronted the suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Tracy Baker. The caller informed police that Baker had a crowbar, hammer and a flash light in his possession. According to the complainant, Baker had attempted to take a plastic bag full of items, and an ice cream bucket.

When confronted, Baker allegedly said “I’m sorry, I’m sorry — I’m leaving this.” and left the scene. However, $30 was missing from the cash register, and the jukebox had been damaged.

On Aug. 17, another call was made from the 200 block of Allen St. in Amherst, where a garage had been rummaged through, according to the complainant. Nothing was missing, and the suspect left behind a bucket of tools, as well as a soda can.

Authorities matched the DNA taken from the soda can from the DNA taken from the flashlight. Both matched the suspect; Tracy Baker. Police would later track him down and found the defendant drenched in sweat, and upon contact, he claimed that he was on a break from a drywall job.

He gave police a false name, and his story would change multiple times when pressured to give the name of the company he was allegedly drywalling for. Baker would eventually argue that “if nothing was taken, then it’s not burglary.”

If convicted, Baker faces over 50 years imprisonment. His next day in court is slated for March 19.