ERATH - The Erath Police Department has been trying to find out who has been breaking into vehicles located in the north part of town, and they got the break they needed thanks to a cell phone call.

Erath Police Chief Gerald Hebert and his officers have been posting unmarked cars near the streets where vehicles have been broken into in hopes of catching the criminals. But no luck after two weeks of trying.

Blake Daniel Holiday, 19, was arrested Sunday morning by the Erath Police Department and charged with six counts of simple burglary of a motor vehicle, illegal possession of items, six counts of criminal trespassing, possession of drugs without a prescription.

Holiday, who is from Lafayette, allegedly stole a cell phone from one of the vehicles and began using it for a couple of days. The owner of the cell phone realized it was stolen and shut it off days later. However, the cell phone owner kept his same phone number but began using a different phone.

Hebert said the cell phone owner began getting texts and calls from numbers he did not know. An Erath police officer called one of the numbers and a female answered. The officer advised the female to come to the police station and answer questions. She told the police who was calling her from the stolen cell phone and where Holiday lives.

The Erath Police got a search warrant and went to 720 North Severan Street in Erath. When they searched the house, they located stolen items and arrested Holiday.

He also may be linked to other car burglaries throughout Vermilion Parish, Hebert said.

“The guy has a long rap sheet in Lafayette,” said Hebert.

Hebert praised his officers for trying to catch the criminal. Officers who worked the investigation were Jeff Vincent, Anna Lapointe, Ryan Pommier, Lou Daniel, Mitchell Pommier, and Trevor Landry.