Man, 19, Charged With 30 Counts of Entering Auto

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HOLLY SPRINGS, GA -- The Holly Springs Police Department has arrested a 19-year-old suspect in connection for a string of entering auto incidents.

Johnathan Gregory Peck is accused of targeting more than two dozen vehicles March 12-14 in the area of Hickory and Morgan roads, the agency said.

The agency stated more than 20 vehicles were "entered through unlocked doors, resulting in the theft of personal items left inside."

Holly Springs Police Uniform Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations division canvassed the area, and began collecting evidence to develop a description of the suspect.

On Tuesday, March 15, officers responded to a local business on an unrelated call and while at the establishment, Holly Springs officer Sherron Conrad recognized a resident who matched the description of the entering auto suspect.

Peck was arrested on narcotics possession charges, and turned over to detectives for additional processing.

It wasn't Peck's first run-in with the law. In June 2015, he was arrested and charged by Canton police with five counts of entering auto. In November, Peck pleaded guilty to one count each of entering auto and possession of marijuana, and was sentenced to three years of probation as a first time offender.

Holly Springs police plans to charge Peck with 20 counts of felony entering auto. Additionally, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office is also considering charging Peck with 10 counts of entering auto since those cases occurred under its jurisdiction.

"This is an excellent example of the cooperation between law enforcement agencies and our community," Holly Springs police said.

On the heels of the arrest, the police department is reminding residents that locking their vehicles and removing valuable items out of sight can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a victim of entering auto.

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Image via Cherokee Sheriff's Office