'316 Office Creeper,' Suspect in Area Theft Cases, Identified by Police

A suspected thief who authorities believe targeted commercial businesses in Barrow and Oconee counties and even an elementary school in Clarke County has been identified. 

11Alive News calls him the "316 Office Creeper" and reports law enforcement has named the suspect as 54-year-old Antonio Hornsby. Warrants for felony burglary and theft and misdemeanor theft by taking and loitering and prowling charges have been taken out by Athens-Clarke County Police. He is also a suspect in several thefts in Winder, Duluth, Braselton, Acworth, Cartersville and Henry and Oconee counties.

The Winder Police Department asked for help this past week in identifying the suspect, captured in video surveillance. According to a news release issued by the department, the victims were targeted between noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, and each of the witnesses gave similar descriptions of a man who entered the businesses claiming to be someone sent by the building owner to perform services such as carpet cleaning and pest control. The man was given access to office areas after telling employees he needed to inspect the area for the work he was going to perform. Employees, who were out of their offices, discovered their wallets missing from purses and desks shortly after the man left the buildings.

On March 16, the manager of Barberitos on Epps Bridge Parkway in Oconee County told deputies there was video footage of a man entering the restaurant's office and taking two employees' wallets, but a detailed description of a suspect wasn't in the incident report. A Sheriff's investigator later told Patch he believed it was the same man suspected of committing similar crimes in surrounding counties.

Police believe Hornby is traveling along Interstate 75 on his way to Florida, where he has family. He may be driving a stolen beige 1994 Buick Regal GA Tag# GA 803I, according to the news outlet.

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