BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. – Two people were arrested on Wednesday after they allegedly broke into four different convenience stores, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office announced.

At 2:28 a.m., deputies responded to an active business alarm at a convenience store on Stateline Road in Niles.

At the scene, deputies discovered a front door window had been broken out and liquor, money, and cigarettes were taken from the store.

While working on the Niles break-in, deputies learned the City of Buchanan had reports of three other gas stations/convenience stores being broken into.

Berrien County Dispatch then got a call of an alarm going off at a convenience store in Galien.

Patrol deputies were nearby the Galien store and as they arrived on scene, they saw two people get in a black sedan and leave the scene, reports said.

Deputies followed the vehicle west on U.S. 12 towards New Buffalo.

Fifteen minutes later, Pokagon Tribal Police officers deployed stop sticks and stopped the sedan.

Following a chase on foot, deputies captured both people.

They were identified as 26-year-old Maleik Johnson of Chicago and 24-year-old Lashan Wyatt of Hammond, Indiana.

Deputies confirmed Johnson and Wyatt committed four out of the five reported break-ins, reports said.

They also learned the two are allegedly part of a large crime ring that’s been committing similar break-ins and thefts in over 150 incidents in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Johnson and Wyatt were taken to the Berrien County Jail on felony charges that include:

• Fleeing and eluding
• Three counts of breaking and entering
• Possession of stolen vehicle
• Resisting and obstructing police
• Possession of concealed weapon
• Felony firearms

The two are awaiting arraignment.

This investigation is ongoing.