LISBON - All roads must lead to Circle K, which is how Richard A. Wright came to be arrested in connection with the theft of items from 10 vehicles Tuesday night.

Someone went through town that night entering mostly unlocked vehicles and stealing GPS devices and change. One of the stolen items happened to be an unloaded AR-15 rifle in a canvas carrying bag.

Acting on a hunch, officer Mike Abraham said they asked the manager of the Circle K convenience store to pull the security videotape from between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 3 a.m. Wednesday "because it seems like all of the criminals end up at the Circle K after they commit a crime," he said.

While reviewing the security tape the store manager pointed out a scruffy looking person who entered the store carrying something slung over his back. Upon closer examination the item appeared to be the canvas bag containing the stolen rifle, which was later confirmed by the owner after he was shown the videotape. While in the store, the suspect purchased pop and cigarettes with change presumably stolen from the victims.

Abraham said they made a photographic copy of the videotape and began showing it around until someone identified the person in it as Wright, 24. After obtaining a warrant for Wright's arrest, police, assisted by the Columbiana County Drug Task Force because weapons may be involved, went to his listed address on Forest Street but no one was home.

Abraham said they learned Wright has a girlfriend in Warren and contacted police there, who found him at the address. Wright agreed to be returned to Lisbon so he could surrender to police and is currently being held in the county jail while awaiting arraignment in county municipal court.

While in custody, Wright reportedly confessed to be being responsible to the vehicle thefts, and Abraham said all of the stolen items except the rifle were found in a van at the Forest Street address.

The rifle was recovered from the home of William Davison, West Washington Street. Davison, 23, was charged with obstructing police business after initially denying the rifle was there even though he knew it to be.

Wright is only charged with stealing the rifle but Abraham said they expect to file additional charges against him for the other thefts.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com