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The Nicholasville Police Department (NPD) arrested and charged a local resident on Tuesday, May 16, after an extensive investigation.

Paul Masters had been on the run since March 24, 2023, after failing to appear in court for unrelated charges and for committing two burglaries in two different local convenience stores in Jessamine County.

Masters was charged with burglary in the 2nd-degree and possession of burglary tools along with possession of cocaine with other unrelated charges.

According to the NPD, the first burglary attempt took place on Feb. 14, 2022, at the All-Star Gas Station on South U.S. 27. A call was made reporting that someone had cut a hole in an exterior wall of the building and crawled in to attempt to break into the ATM. The machine was not breached, but it was damaged.

Masters’ second burglary attempt happened on March 21, 2022, at the T-Mart at 980 South St. A T-Mart employee called to report a burglary involving a hole being cut in the building and a damaged ATM.

Detectives connected the two burglaries and were able to identify Masters as the suspect. Masters confessed to both burglaries during an interview with Nicholasville Police on Wednesday.

ABC 36 reported another hole-cutting burglary committed by Masters in 2013.

He is currently lodged at the Jessamine County Detention Center.