Cottondale Man Accused Of Multiple Vehicle Thefts Over Last Week

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa Police have arrested a Cottondale man suspected of stealing at least five vehicles over the last week.

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TPD says Robert Lee Johnson Jr., 19, was arrested Tuesday and charged with five counts of first-degree theft. He is being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail with bond set a $150,000, while his bond on unrelated prior charges is expected to be revoked.

The first stolen car was reported the night of Wednesday, July 6, after its owners had left it
running while going inside a gas station. TPD then said four more vehicles were stolen from gas stations under similar circumstances over the next few days.

Johnson was eventually developed as a suspect and charged on Tuesday. However, additional arrests could be forthcoming.

Johnson is also expected to face additional charges, while police say all but one of the vehicles have been recovered.

Investigators, who believe Johnson kept the vehicles from between four hours to a few a day days before abandoning them, also have information expected to lead to the recovery of the last vehicle.

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