ATHENS — Athens Police and Limestone County Sheriff’s investigators have captured a man believed responsible for a string of thefts at city and county storage buildings.
On Tuesday, Athens Police charged Richard Todd Crowe, 42, of 26111 Dupree Hollow Road in Lester with six counts of third-degree burglary and one count of possession of burglary tools, records show.
“We are glad to have this suspect,” said Athens Police Lt. Floyd Johnson. “This was becoming a major problem.”
Over the past several weeks, police have investigated break-ins at eight storage units at various locations throughout Athens, the lieutenant said.
On Tuesday, Athens Police Investigator Johnny Campbell saw Crowe putting a plastic storage container in a truck at M&J; Mini Storage at 23578 U.S. 72 East and stopped him at 72 and Mooresville Road, Johnson said. Campbell noticed in Crowe’s truck a set of bolt cutters and several padlocks that had been cut, he said.
Campbell asked Sgt. Jason White and Investigator Katrina Flanagan to check the storage units at M&J.; The officers discovered several storage units had been broken into, so Crowe was arrested and taken to city jail by Officer Roger Martin, Johnson said.
“We had talked with investigators from the Sheriff’s Department and knew they were also having storage units broken into,” Johnson said. “We contacted their investigators about Crowe’s arrest, and we felt he was involved in several of their burglaries.”
Limestone County Sheriff’s Investigators Eric King, Randy Burroughs, Lt. Brad Curnutt and Chief Deputy Randy King, along with Athens Police investigators, went to Crowe’s home Tuesday night and found some of the property reported stolen from storage units in both the city and county, Johnson said. The items — which include tools, dishes, an antique sewing-machine cabinet and an air-compressor with a serial number matching one reported stolen — were loaded into a trailer and hauled to the Sheriff’s Department so they can be returned to the owners, Johnson and Curnutt said.
Crow told investigators he had already sold or traded some of the property, Johnson said.
County burglary charges are pending against Crowe, and investigators are still looking into cases.
“We are trying to determine the number of storage buildings he broke into,” Curnutt said.
“We know of five or six that he broke into and there may be five others we are checking on.”
Local News
Lester man accused in string of storage-building break-ins
- Local News
-
-
BREAKING: State offers $1.75 million in incentives for steel plant
On Monday, the Limestone County Commission and Athens City Council held a joint meeting to approve local incentives for the company, including a sales and property tax abatement worth $22 million.
-
Quick-acting deputies nab burglary suspects
-
ALDOT to begin slide repair on I-65
Motorists are requested to consider using alternate routes, adjust arrival/departure times, observe work zone speed limits and other work zone and detour signs and use extreme caution between exits 328 and 334.
-
Ala. House starts session with job creation bills
The House also approved bills offering tax incentives to coal mining businesses and to data processing companies.
-
Judge: Bishop inquest transcript to be made public
Bishop is in prison awaiting trial, charged with opening fire on her co-workers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in February 2010, killing three and wounding three.
-
Gas prices up; could hit $4 by spring
Gas prices have risen steadily over the past several days to above the $3.30 mark in most locations across the state.
-
MORE STORIES: Click LOCAL NEWS bar at top left
Click "Local News" bar at top left for more stories
-
Williams reflects on 1st week of session
With the first week of the 2012 Alabama Legislative session in the books, Rep. Dan Williams, R-Athens, is enjoying a victory after the House passed a jobs bill that includes an amendment he sponsored.
-
Cook, eat or bid on goods at upcoming Chili Challenge
The 24th annual Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge and Silent Auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Athens High School. - AMVETS offer free membership
- More Local News Headlines
-
BREAKING: State offers $1.75 million in incentives for steel plant
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
