Athens GA Aug 3 2013
Joe Johnson-Athens Online
The University of Georgia Police Department recently dismantled a theft ring that was responsible for stealing belongings from dozens of vehicles on and off campus.
The three-member ring mostly targeted unlocked cars and trucks in late June and early July, but also smashed windows to get into vehicles, police said.
Two of the suspects were arrested late last month and the third was taken into custody on Wednesday.
The arrests helped Athens-Clarke County police clear numerous car break-ins, many of which occurred between July 3-11 in the vicinity of Riverbend Road and Riverbend Parkway.
The case was broken when a credit card stolen from a car at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia was used to make a purchase at a local store.
UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said investigators reviewed store surveillance video and identified the person using the card as Gerald Anthony Thomas Jr., 18, of Lexington Road. He was charged with multiple counts of entering auto and financial transaction card fraud.
Investigators subsequently identified two accomplices: Joshua Alexander Conaway, 18, of College Circle, and Leon Pettyjohn, 18, of Talmo, both of whom were charged with multiple counts of entering auto.
In addition to stealing from vehicles in the Riverbend area, police said, the suspects struck at various UGA parking lots and decks, and student housing complexes.
They stole whatever they could find, from iPods and GPS systems, to cash and clothing, according to police.
The theft ring used Pettyjohn’s home as a stash house, where police said they recovered numerous stolen items.
Williamson estimated the arrests helped UGA and Athens-Clarke police clear a total of more than 30 cases.
“The county and university police constantly collaborate,” Williamson said. “When we come across something we think can help out with investigations they have, we share information and they do the same for us.”
Athens-Clarke police said they believe some of the recovered items came from unreported car break-ins.
Anyone who had property stolen from their cars last month, but never made a police report, should call Athens-Clarke police Detective Jody Thompson at (706) 613-3888, ext. 477, or email him at jody.thompson@athensclarkecounty.com
Joe Johnson-Athens Online
The University of Georgia Police Department recently dismantled a theft ring that was responsible for stealing belongings from dozens of vehicles on and off campus.
The three-member ring mostly targeted unlocked cars and trucks in late June and early July, but also smashed windows to get into vehicles, police said.
Two of the suspects were arrested late last month and the third was taken into custody on Wednesday.
The arrests helped Athens-Clarke County police clear numerous car break-ins, many of which occurred between July 3-11 in the vicinity of Riverbend Road and Riverbend Parkway.
The case was broken when a credit card stolen from a car at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia was used to make a purchase at a local store.
UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said investigators reviewed store surveillance video and identified the person using the card as Gerald Anthony Thomas Jr., 18, of Lexington Road. He was charged with multiple counts of entering auto and financial transaction card fraud.
Investigators subsequently identified two accomplices: Joshua Alexander Conaway, 18, of College Circle, and Leon Pettyjohn, 18, of Talmo, both of whom were charged with multiple counts of entering auto.
In addition to stealing from vehicles in the Riverbend area, police said, the suspects struck at various UGA parking lots and decks, and student housing complexes.
They stole whatever they could find, from iPods and GPS systems, to cash and clothing, according to police.
The theft ring used Pettyjohn’s home as a stash house, where police said they recovered numerous stolen items.
Williamson estimated the arrests helped UGA and Athens-Clarke police clear a total of more than 30 cases.
“The county and university police constantly collaborate,” Williamson said. “When we come across something we think can help out with investigations they have, we share information and they do the same for us.”
Athens-Clarke police said they believe some of the recovered items came from unreported car break-ins.
Anyone who had property stolen from their cars last month, but never made a police report, should call Athens-Clarke police Detective Jody Thompson at (706) 613-3888, ext. 477, or email him at jody.thompson@athensclarkecounty.com