ARLINGTON, Va. – Police have arrested a man they say is behind a months-long spree of home burglaries and retail thefts across Arlington County.
Duane Barnes, 34, of Waldorf, Maryland, faces 22 charges, including multiple counts of burglary, grand larceny, and property destruction. He’s now in custody at the Arlington County Detention Facility.
The charges stem from 11 separate incidents between July 2025 and January 2026, including break-ins at three Arlington homes and repeated thefts from a retail store in Pentagon City.
According to police, the first reported break-in occurred on December 16 in the 2400 block of N. Underwood Street, where Barnes allegedly forced his way into a home and stole electronics and jewelry. Similar burglaries followed on S. Irving Street on December 22 and McKinley Street on January 6. In the last case, police say Barnes fled when the resident unexpectedly returned home.
Investigators also linked Barnes to eight thefts from a store on S. Hayes Street, where he allegedly stole thousands of dollars’ worth of clothing over several months.
Arlington Police say they were able to identify Barnes through an extensive investigation and arrested him in Maryland on January 16. He was extradited to Virginia shortly afterward.
This remains an active investigation. Anyone with more information is encouraged to call the Arlington County Police tip line at 703-228-4180.