Numerous incidents of "Entering Auto" (thefts from inside vehicles parked in driveways, yards, etc.) occurred last night (6/23-24/20) at homes located inside the city limits of Eatonton and in the unincorporated area of the county near Lake Oconee.  The crimes in the Lake Oconee area happened in 5 different neighborhoods off Old Phoenix Road between New Phoenix Road and Hwy. 44.

These crimes are the first rash of such incidents in the county since we made arrests of a group of offenders last November, but when a group of such offenses occurs they usually go on for several weeks until we make arrests.  We investigate such incidents to the best of our abilities with the limited staff we have and we generally have been successful in solving such crimes in the past.

Let me be very clear, if you leave anything of value in the your vehicle parked in your driveway at night, there is a propensity that your property will be stolen.  The primary target item of these thieves are guns.  I implore you not to leave your firearms in your vehicles at night.  The second thing the covet is cash money, and lastly they will always take any kind of electronic device such as an I-Phones, I-Pads, or laptops.

I ask you to remember that once they steal your handgun from your car, they are then armed when they go to the next home to perpetrate their crimes and are further armed when they may be stopped by a deputy.

If you experience(d) an incident of "Entering Auto", please make a report of it regardless of whether something is stolen or not.  Your report may be the incident that leads us to apprehending these criminals.

Howard R. Sills, Sheriff
Putnam County