Metal Theft Cases Top Crime Report

A little over a week ago, from Bethabara Baptist Church.

More incidents of metal theft have been reported to the over the last week.

• More than $3,000 worth of metal was taken from a 3700 block address of Greensboro Highway sometime during the last month.  The theft was reported to the Sheriff's Office on Oct. 13.  An antique magnetic motor from a cotton gin, a non-functional refrigerator, and 15-20 pounds of bars from electrical panels were stolen.
• An air conditioning unit, valued at $2,400, was stolen from a 1000 block Mayne Mill Road address sometime between 5 p.m. on Oct. 10 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 11. Because of the rain, no tire tracks or footprints were found at the scene, deputies noted.
• Two hundred feet of electrical wire was removed from a pavilion building on the .  The theft occurred between May 2010 and Oct. 11, 2011. A military green fire extinguisher was also taken.  The UGA police department has been notified of the Sheriff's Office initial report.
• A thief attempted to steal an air conditioner on Oct. 13 between 7-7:30 a.m. at a 2000 block address of Salem Road.  Deputies noted a suspect cut the electrical supply and two external copper lines and damaged a crawl space door by removing its lower hinges. The damage is estimated at $300.

Recently Sheriff Scott Berry gave a presentation to the Georgia Farm Bureau, where he spoke about the ongoing metal theft "crisis" in Georgia. .

Here is a summary of other incidents:

Theft: An employee of the ATT store at 1750 Epps Bridge Parkway reported the theft of a Motorola Atrix 4G entertainment center.  A man purchased a cell phone and accessories on Sept. 21 and while an associate was activating the phone, he took the Atrix from the counter, left the store and put it in a vehicle, the employee told deputies. The incident was reportedly captured on surveillance footage. 

Burglary: A resident of a 1000 block Phimarga Lane address told deputies last week that  someone entered his garage sometime between July 1 and July 19, 2011 while the man was on vacation.  A passport, $400 worth of Euros, a pressure washer, and loose change was reportedly taken.

Burglary: A resident of a 100 block apartment address on Greenwood Drive reported someone pried open a kitchen window on Oct. 12 between 8 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. A jewelry box was missing from a dresser.  Deputies found a tire tool stuck in the ground under the kitchen window.

Criminal Trespass: Just after 1 a.m. on Oct. 14 at a 1000 block address of Arrowhead Road, a resident said someone began ringing the doorbell and knocking on the windows.  Deputies found an open kitchen window with a screen pulled out and a pool ladder underneath another window. 

Car Entered: Twenty dollars was taken from an unlocked Ford Explorer parked at a 1600 block address of Barnett Shoals Road on Oct. 14.  The SUV's owner left at 5:30 p.m. and returned around 8 p.m. to find the engine running and her purse dumped.  She told deputies she had left the keys in the ignition.

Damaged Mailbox: Someone reportedly damaged a mailbox at a 3600 block address of Colham Ferry Road sometime between 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 and 8 a..m on Oct. 15.

Burglary: While a woman was away on vacation, a burglar entered her home on Dillard Road and took $300 worth of a coin collection and some costume jewelry. A nearby builder had noticed an open garage and notified the Sheriff's Office.  Deputies report a rear garage door to the back yard had been knocked in, the lights were on, and the home had been searched.  They found open drawers some and jewelry scattered.  It is believed the burglary happened between 8 a.m. on Oct. 15 and noon on Oct. 16.

Burglary: A family returned from a weekend getaway to find their home, located in the 1300 block of Clotfelter Road, had been burglarized. Someone had broken a window frame in the front living room.  A 48" Samsung television and an X-Box were missing.  The burglary occurred sometime between 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 14 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 16.

Stray Gunfire: Residents of a 1700 block address of Barnett Shoals Road were awakened by the sound of gunfire striking their home in the early morning hours of Oct. 16. Deputies found a hay bale with a target in a barn on a neighbor's property.  The neighbor told deputies he did not realize a bullet could travel through the barn's tin siding.  The neighbors worked out an agreement.