Former Property Manager Arrested After Admitting to String of Burglaries at Memphis Rental Homes
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former employee of a property management company is behind bars after police say he admitted to multiple burglaries targeting rental homes in Southeast Shelby County. Mario Eddins, 38, has been charged with burglary of a building, five counts of aggravated burglary, and five counts of theft of property following a weeks-long investigation into break-ins at FirstKey Homes properties.
The case began on April 13, when deputies were called to a home after the company’s manager reported that a refrigerator and a Ring camera had been stolen. The home had last been checked on April 1 by an employee, and it was determined that entry had been gained using the key box on the front door—raising suspicions of someone with inside knowledge.
As the investigation deepened, detectives noticed a pattern of burglaries affecting other FirstKey properties in the same area. On April 7, the company’s property security manager reported two more break-ins, one of which was caught on a hidden camera. The footage revealed three male suspects removing appliances, one of whom was identified as Mario Eddins, who had been fired from the company in March.
Further evidence began to mount. Surveillance video from April 1 showed a gray pickup truck backing into a driveway and loading a refrigerator. Using Flock camera system data, detectives traced the truck’s owner and registration. Data also placed Eddins in the area at the time of the burglary, driving a black Honda Accord.
A search warrant executed on April 24 led investigators to a man who had been driving the pickup truck. He admitted to purchasing and storing the stolen appliances and described the seller — a description that matched Eddins. Soon after, Eddins was located and arrested at his mother’s home.
Once in custody, Eddins confessed to six out of the 15 burglaries reported at FirstKey properties. He told detectives he felt he had been unjustly terminated and was “getting back at them” through the thefts. A subsequent search of Eddins’ phone and iPad uncovered photos of stolen appliances, further tying him to the crimes.
Eddins remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.
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