The McMinn County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help finding a man in connection with a number of home burglaries throughout the county.

James "Jamie" Durance, 32, is suspected of breaking into several homes in the past several weeks and stealing valuable items such as jewelry, Sheriff Joe Guy said in a news release.

"Based on witnesses and other evidence we've collected, we believe that apprehending Mr. Durance will solve even more burglaries," Guy said.

Durance is one of several people identified as suspects in the string of burglaries, police said.

Last week, detectives identified a suspect in a series of burglaries in the Niota area, which has resulted in solving some of the thefts, Guy said.

On Monday, several patrol officers stopped a burglary in progress on County Road 350, he said. Richard Wayne Stewart, 45, was arrested, the sheriff said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Durance is asked to call the sheriff's office at 423-745-5620.