Four suspects from Florida are awaiting bond hearings after being charged with entering autos in Statesboro over the weekend.
Detectives are still seeking information on the cases, interviewing the suspects and reviewing other reported entering auto incidents, but at least three entering auto cases were linked to the suspects, all from Fort Lauderdale, said Statesboro police Capt. Jared Akins.
All four were initially charged with three counts each of entering auto, but further charges are possible. Police arrested Gerald Francois, 21, of Landing Drive in Fort Lauderdale; Delayzia Hutchinson, 20, of NW 30th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale; Demiah Richardson, 20, of NW 25th Street in Fort Lauderdale; and Aleefah Sumpter,19, of NW 15th Court in Fort Lauderdale.
Statesboro police were called to a church on East Main Street around 11 a.m. Sunday, where a victim reported “her credit card had just shown unauthorized activity at Walgreens on Northside Drive East,” Akins said.
Officers obtained video of a white SUV leaving the church parking lot at the time of the theft, he said.
“Around the same time, two other reports were filed from patrons at Mill Creek Park who reported that their vehicles had been forcibly entered and items taken,” he said.
Patrol officers then went to Walgreens and found a vehicle similar to the one seen in the church video. There were the four suspects at the SUV with the stolen credit card in their possession, he said.
The suspects had just purchased gift cards from the store with the stolen credit card, and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed further property stolen from the vehicles reported entered, he said. The four were taken into custody and transported to the Bulloch County Jail.
“The case has been forwarded to detectives for follow up,” Akins said. “Anyone with further information on the case should contact Detective Dustin Cross at (912) 764-9911.”
Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.