Authorities followed a trail of scratch-off lottery tickets to find the man they say is responsible for breaking into a Dawson County convenience store last week.

Shawn Walter Davis, 32, of Dawsonville was arrested April 7 after a search of his Moss Road home reportedly turned up several dozen lottery tickets.

The tickets were taken a night earlier from the EZ Buy on Henry Grady Highway.

Also missing from the store were more than $600 in cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash from registers.

The money was not recovered.

"Our investigators believe the suspect hid in the store as it was being locked up at closing," said Dawson County Sheriff's Lt. Tony Wooten.

Davis was arrested after he redeemed one of the stolen lottery tickets at a gas station in Murrayville.

The Georgia Lottery Commission had placed a hold on the tickets once they were reported stolen, Wooten said.

During the investigation, officers were able to identify Davis through security surveillance, according to the arrest warrant.

Investigators found a path littered with scratch-off tickets near the EZ Buy.

Davis faces charges ranging from burglary and theft by taking to criminal damage to property.

He also has been charged with three counts of prescription drug possession. Bond has not been set.

The same store was also burglarized about a month ago when an undisclosed amount of cash was taken.

Authorities did not say whether Davis may be responsible for the earlier incident.