Fairfax County Police say a man arrested on Nov. 17 in Montgomery County is directly linked to the serial burglaries that have plagued Fairfax County, Vienna and surrounding jurisdictions since August.

Brad K. Edmonds, 34, of Kennebec Street in Oxon Hill, was arrested and charged with  first-degree burglary, two counts of malicious destruction of property under $500, attempted first-degree burglary, two counts of rogue and vagabond, two counts of theft between $1,000 and $10,000, theft under $1,000, fourth-degree burglary tools, possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center in lieu of $425,000 bail, according to a Montgomery County Police press release.

Fairfax County Police are continuing to investigate and anticipate charging the suspect in Fairfax County, according to a FCPD press release.

"We're at the very early stages of the investigation, but we felt it was critical to put the information out to the community in as timely a manner as possible because so many residents were understandably extremely concerned and anxious over the past few months," said Lucy Caldwell, a police spokeswoman.

As of Nov. 3, a total of 109 residences in Fairfax County had been hit. Montgomery County Police say Edmonds could face additional charges in their county.

Edmonds was stopped by police in Montgomery County around 4 a.m. Nov. 8, according to Fairfax County Police, when a resident called to report a suspicious vehicle on their street.

Police located the vehicle and the suspect during a traffic stop. Several incidents were subsequently reported in the Montgomery County area, and police linked Edmonds to the series of burglaries, police said.

"As we predicted, thanks to the community and an alert resident we made the arrest," Caldwell said. "The community is critical in what we do." 

At 12:15 a.m. on Nov. 16, Fairfax County Police detectives and Montgomery County 1st District investigators conducted a joint surveillance on Edmonds as he moved through the Evening Ride Drive area of Potomac, Md. Around 11:45 p.m., Edmonds returned, this time to the 11700 block of Lake Potomac Drive in Potomac, police said.

Police say they watched Edmonds break into two vehicles parked in a driveway on Lake Potomac Drive. They also documented him committing a residential burglary on the same block, and attempting a second burglary nearby in the 11500 block of the same road. Edmonds stole personal items and cash from the vehicles and the home, police said. 

Police followed Edmonds as he left the neighborhood and arrested him at 4:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at the intersection of River and Falls roads.

Investigators conducted a search of Edmonds' home later that day and found items related to the recent series of burglaries, police said, including the rifle that had been reported stolen from a vehicle in the 13300 block of Drew's Lane in Potomac.

Investigators also searched Edmonds' car, a 1999 blue Oldsmobile Intrigue, on Nov. 18 and found more items related to the burglaries. 

"Officers across the region, Prince William and Vienna and other jurisdictions, worked with us. Fairfax County led the investigation, formed the task force and put considerable resources into effecting an arrest." 

Police say residents should continue to lock their vehicles and homes.

"Certainly we are hopeful we will be able to resolve and bring closure to many of the cases [connected to the serial burglar]," Caldwell said. "We don't want to overly reassure people. There are still burglaries [not linked to the serial burglar] that occur. This was a huge wake-up call to lock your doors and windows and secure your valuables because it's easy ... to let your guard down."