DOVER — A 49-year-old Maryland man is facing 72 charges after 18 alleged burglaries at Dover commercial businesses, city police said Thursday.

According to Dover Police Department spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman, a multi-jurisdictional investigation among law enforcement agencies in Delaware and Maryland resulted in the arrest of Thomas K. Jenkins, 515 Cedarleaf Avenue, Capital Heights, Maryland.

Dover police said while investigating 18 alleged commercial burglaries between Sept. 14, 2014, and Feb. 5, 2015, it was discovered that the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department was investigating burglaries similar to those committed in Dover.

During a meeting of the law enforcement agencies, a timeline was established and allegedly showed a serial burglar was involved, Cpl. Hoffman said.

Police had dubbed the perpetrator the “rat burglar” because his method of operations involved cutting holes into the buildings and then crawling in to commit the thefts.

Cpl. Hoffman said that PG County authorities came up with a suspect after a vehicle was located in the back of a building that had allegedly been burglarized.

Combined investigative efforts of Dover PD and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department located Mr. Jenkins’s car and followed his movements “over a period of time,” Cpl. Hoffman said.

On March 9, Mr. Jenkins was allegedly seen by police cutting a hole into the roof of a Prince George’s County commercial business and entering it, Cpl. Hoffman said.

Mr. Jenkins allegedly fled, police said, and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department quickly took him into custody.

Police said Mr. Jenkins was allegedly found possessing a .45 caliber handgun stolen from a business in Delaware State Police Troop 9 jurisdiction. Cpl. Hoffman said Mr. Jenkins was searched and another stolen .45 caliber handgun from the same business was allegedly found.

Delaware State Police said charges are pending regarding an alleged burglary on Dec. 23, 2014 at Trinity Tactical USA LLC. at 4435 Summit Bridge Rd. in Middletown. Charges include third-degree burglary, possession of burglar tools, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by person prohibited, 11 countys of theft of firearm, and criminal mischief, authorities said.

Dover police said Mr. Jenkins is currently being held in Maryland.

Charges from Dover PD against Mr. Jenkins include:

• Wearing a disguise during commission of a felony (4 counts)

• Third-degree burglary (18 counts)

• Possession of burglary tools (18 counts)

• Theft under $1,500 (14 counts)

• Criminal mischief (18 total counts/2 felony level)

Dover police said it investigated alleged burglaries at:

• Maple Dale Country Club

• Manlove Auto Parts

• Sovereign Properties

• Morgan Properties

• U and I Builders

• AMCO Check Cashing

• Colonial Investment

• 1st Capital Mortgage

• Advantage Travel

• Ancient Way Massage

• Tranquil Spirit Massage/Spa

• Christopher Asay Massage

• Morgan Communities

• Vincenzo’s Reastaurant

• Happy Fortune Chinese Restaurant

• Happy 13 Liquors

• Del-One Credit Union

• Pizza Time