WENATCHEE — Chelan County detectives say they have recovered items taken in eight to 10 burglaries this winter in the Chelan and Leavenworth areas, leading to the arrest of a 33-year-old Wenatchee man.

Christian B. Merchant was arrested Friday on suspicion of trafficking in stolen property, possession of stolen property, two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Merchant was arrested after detectives executed a search warrant at a home in the 800 block of Willow Brook Drive in Wenatchee and at a mini storage unit in the 2200 block of South Methow Street, said Detective Mitch Matheson.

Items recovered were valued at more than $12,000, and included a firearm stolen many years ago out of Seattle, and an antique shotgun taken recently from Chelan, Matheson said. Most of the items were taken from mini storage units or from storage sheds on people’s property, and involved the use of bolt cutters to enter the units. Matheson said detectives secured a search warrant based on information from an informant.

— Dee Riggs, World staff