Birmingham

Troy man linked to four Birmingham home invasions

By Tiffany Esshaki
C & G Staff Writer

Christopher Rousseau

BIRMINGHAM — A Troy man is behind bars after being arrested for allegedly breaking into four houses in Birmingham within four days.

According to the Birmingham Police Department, 29-year-old Christopher Rousseau was taken into custody Oct. 29 after a neighbor reportedly saw him trying to enter a home in the 500 block of Catalpa. Officers responding to the neighbor’s report found Rousseau and his parked vehicle in the area of Catalpa and Edgewood.

Cmdr. Terry Kiernan of the Birmingham Police Department said he believes Rousseau is linked to a home invasion spree that began Oct. 25, when two homes were broken into on Derby Street. No suspects were found in that incident.

Days later, on Oct. 29, officers responded to a home invasion in the 1300 block of Shipman. While investigating, detectives determined that jewelry had been taken from the home, and they obtained a description of the suspect and his vehicle.

As police were wrapping up that investigation, they were alerted to the case on Catalpa, where they were able to apprehend Rousseau. His description matched that of the man involved in the Shipman incident just prior.

While searching Rousseau’s vehicle, officers found what they believed to be heroin and crack cocaine. Police also retrieved several pieces of jewelry that were allegedly taken from the home invasions in question.

Kiernan said he believes the suspect was only in town for a short time, looking to make quick cash to support a possible drug habit.

“I’m sure we’re not the only city this guy’s been hitting,” he said, noting that Troy police will likely add on charges from their own jurisdiction in the coming days. “Detectives are still trying to put it all together. We charged him on what we know for sure, and we’ll see if he’s charged with anything else.”

Rousseau was arraigned in 48th District Court Nov. 1 on two counts of second degree home invasion, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin. Bond was set at $100,000 cash only. An attorney for Rousseau could not be reached at press time. Rousseau was due back in court Nov. 5, after the Eagle went to press.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Tiffany Esshaki at tesshaki@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.