Details out on four individuals responsible for vehicle thefts

More details are out on the arrest of four individuals for entering unlocked vehicles on multiple roads in Toccoa last week.

Police Chief Tim Jarrell reports that those arrested include Anterious Odister, Cody Yates, Jamarius Fortson and Eligah Mosley, all 17 of Toccoa.

“As of right now, the Police Department has 20 counts of entering an automobile against each individual,” said Jarrell. “Yates and Mosley are facing additional felony charges for theft by receiving and they’re two counts each.”

Jarrell said that these thefts occurred on Thursday, June 1 and all vehicles were unlocked.

“Our investigation is telling us that these incidents occurred between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.,” said Jarrell. “During that time, vehicles that were parked on Andrews Road, Andrews Way, Andrews Place, Poplar Trail, Poplar Way, Furman Street, Hilltop Lane and Briarwood Drive all had vehicles entered. We also located inside a vehicle we conducted a traffic stop on on Hilltop Lane Extension, evidence from a vehicle where things were taken on Lover’s Lane.”

Officers were notified by a neighbor who came out of his residence to leave for work and noticed the four suspects. Once law enforcement arrived on the scene, officers were able to apprehend one of the suspects. Two of the other suspects were arrested after a traffic stop later on Thursday, after attempting to run on foot.

“Just prior to conducting a traffic stop on two of these individuals, they discarded a loaded handgun,” said Jarrell. “We went out and attempted to locate the handgun and were unsuccessful. We contacted Sheriff Joey Terrell with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, who sent us his officer and K-9 partner who is a bomb dog and was able to locate the handgun within approximately 15 minutes.”

The fourth suspect was located with the help of the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Jarrell, thefts from vehicles have been an ongoing issue in the area and they do have reason to believe these four individuals are responsible for other thefts in the city.

Jarrell advises that everyone be sure to lock their vehicles to ensure they don’t become a victim of this crime.

“Every one of these vehicles were left unlocked,” said Jarrell. “We can’t stress enough to the citizens in asking for them to reduce the probability of becoming a victim of this type of crime by locking their vehicles. Some of these vehicles had weapons in them, money, their personal identification. From these instances it could lead to something more. If they are going to leave anything of value in their vehicle, put it in the trunk or in the backseat of the car, covered up where it can’t be seen.

Jarrell said if you see a theft in progress, report it to 911.