Tattoos help police ID burglary suspect

Using surveillance videos and mug shots, police have arrested a tattooed 51-year-old man for a series of burglaries in North Philadelphia, Kensington and Port Richmond, officials said Tuesday.

Leslie Ayala, 51, who is described as homeless, was arrested on Friday and has been charged with criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft-unlawful taking, and theft-receiving stolen property.

Relying on videos taken from the burgled locations, East Detectives conducted a search through the Philadelphia Police Mugshot System and identified Ayalaby matching tattoos and features of the burglar in the videos, police said.

Police gave this list of the burglaries for which Ayala is charged:

May 24, China House restaurant, 3102 G St., Kensington;

June 13, a home on the 1900 block of Cumberland Street, North Philadelphia;

June 30, Xin Ying restaurant, 2403 E. Somerset St.; Port Richmond;

July 1, La Fuerza Grocery, 2570 Emerald St. Kensington;

July 10, China Star restaurant, 3084 Frankford Ave. Kensington.