Three men are behind bars after Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies found them with several items that had been reported stolen in automobile break-ins, said Sheriff Lynn Anderson.
Christopher Burnette, 21, Grady Street, Portal; Alan Michael Kitchens, 20, Cowboy Way, Portal; and Justin Craig Anderson, 19, Pine Forest Drive, Statesboro, are each “charged with multiple counts of entering auto, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, possession of a Schedule IV drug and possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription,” he said.
Additional charges are pending. All three men are incarcerated at the Bulloch County Jail without bond.
Sheriff Anderson said deputies received a call around 4:30 a.m. Monday from a victim who lives in Hazlewood Subdivision off Cypress Lake Road. The victim told responding deputies he was awakened by his car alarm sounding off after someone apparently tried to enter the vehicle.
“When he checked, he found where someone had tried to get into it,” he said.
Deputies began combing the area and soon located a suspicious vehicle nearby — a dark colored Pontiac Grand Prix later discovered to belong to Justin Craig Anderson, he said.
“Investigation into the vehicle and occupants turned up numerous items of property that appeared to belong to different people in Hazlewood,” Sheriff Anderson said. “The suspects were taken into custody, and the property was seized. Deputies began contacting residents in the neighborhood to determine how many vehicles had been entered and as to what had been taken.”
Sheriff Anderson said the suspects may be responsible for thefts in Irongate and Hunter’s Pointe Subdivision as well. The investigation regarding numerous thefts is ongoing, he said.
Burnette had recently been bonded out of jail regarding previous entering auto and theft by taking charges by the Portal Police Department.
Portal Police Chief Jason Sapp said he arrested Burnette Aug. 25, charging him with breaking into an acquaintance’s vehicle, taking auto parts and then returning the parts for a refund.
Since Burnette had no receipt, employees at Mallard Auto Parts recorded Burnette’s vehicle tag and other information, as well as recorded the exchange on video camera, Sapp said. When the victim reported the automobile break-in, the evidence led to Burnette.
If anyone has been the victim of an automobile break-in or theft in these areas, including the” Hazlewood-Country Club area,” Sheriff Anderson suggests they contact Sheriff’s Inv. Bill Black at (912) 764-1765 or come to the sheriff’s office to identify any missing property.
“Anyone having any information regarding these thefts should contact Inv. Black also,” he said.
Many theft from automobiles and residences can be prevented by a simple act,the sheriff said.
“We would like to remind everyone that one of the easiest, cheapest ways to prevent theft if to lock your doors, whether it be your home or your vehicles,” he said.
Christopher Burnette, 21, Grady Street, Portal; Alan Michael Kitchens, 20, Cowboy Way, Portal; and Justin Craig Anderson, 19, Pine Forest Drive, Statesboro, are each “charged with multiple counts of entering auto, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, possession of a Schedule IV drug and possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription,” he said.
Additional charges are pending. All three men are incarcerated at the Bulloch County Jail without bond.
Sheriff Anderson said deputies received a call around 4:30 a.m. Monday from a victim who lives in Hazlewood Subdivision off Cypress Lake Road. The victim told responding deputies he was awakened by his car alarm sounding off after someone apparently tried to enter the vehicle.
“When he checked, he found where someone had tried to get into it,” he said.
Deputies began combing the area and soon located a suspicious vehicle nearby — a dark colored Pontiac Grand Prix later discovered to belong to Justin Craig Anderson, he said.
“Investigation into the vehicle and occupants turned up numerous items of property that appeared to belong to different people in Hazlewood,” Sheriff Anderson said. “The suspects were taken into custody, and the property was seized. Deputies began contacting residents in the neighborhood to determine how many vehicles had been entered and as to what had been taken.”
Sheriff Anderson said the suspects may be responsible for thefts in Irongate and Hunter’s Pointe Subdivision as well. The investigation regarding numerous thefts is ongoing, he said.
Burnette had recently been bonded out of jail regarding previous entering auto and theft by taking charges by the Portal Police Department.
Portal Police Chief Jason Sapp said he arrested Burnette Aug. 25, charging him with breaking into an acquaintance’s vehicle, taking auto parts and then returning the parts for a refund.
Since Burnette had no receipt, employees at Mallard Auto Parts recorded Burnette’s vehicle tag and other information, as well as recorded the exchange on video camera, Sapp said. When the victim reported the automobile break-in, the evidence led to Burnette.
If anyone has been the victim of an automobile break-in or theft in these areas, including the” Hazlewood-Country Club area,” Sheriff Anderson suggests they contact Sheriff’s Inv. Bill Black at (912) 764-1765 or come to the sheriff’s office to identify any missing property.
“Anyone having any information regarding these thefts should contact Inv. Black also,” he said.
Many theft from automobiles and residences can be prevented by a simple act,the sheriff said.
“We would like to remind everyone that one of the easiest, cheapest ways to prevent theft if to lock your doors, whether it be your home or your vehicles,” he said.