GARYVILLE — A Garyville man was arrested last week, accused of stealing metal from multiple car washes.

Julius Allen Duncan, 35, was arrested Friday and is charged with illegal possession of stolen things.

He is being held in lieu of a $12,500 bond.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said good detective work by Lt. Joe Rosa of the St. John Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division led to the arrest.

On April 16, deputies responded to Galen’s Car Wash on Central Avenue in Reserve in reference to a theft, where the victim reported five pieces of metal grating used to cover drains at the business were missing.

On April 18, Rosa made contact with another car wash, Quick Stop on West Airline Highway in LaPlace, in reference to several metal grate thefts.

Rosa learned on April 16, seven metal drain grates were stolen from the business’ Fairway Drive and Rue du Bourg locations.

Rosa made contact with a representative of Bayou Steel Recycling Inc. in LaPlace and discovered the grates had been purchased by the business, leading to the development of Duncan as a suspect.