Crime Report: Shoplifters Try Different Methods

Attempted Burglary: A woman reported on March 14 someone tried to break into her home in the 7500 block of Macon Highway.  A rear door window was broken but nothing appeared to be missing.

Motorcycle Damaged: The owner of a motorcycle reported on March 13 his bike had been damaged while parked in a driveway at a 4300-block Mars Hill Road residence.  Parts of the right side were broken and there were deep scratches on the fuel tank.

Shoplifting: Loss prevention officers at told deputies that on March 12 a manager witnessed a woman shoplifting but was unable to stop her before she left the store.  A license plate number was given to investigators. Video surveillance showed the woman entering the fitting room with two shopping bags and then immediately leaving the store carrying four bags. 

Shoplifting: A woman was arrested at Wal-Mart on March 12 after loss prevention officers said she tried to leave the store without paying for two shirts and two pairs of pants.  A family member was called to pick up the woman's 2-year-old daughter and the 22-year-old Madison woman was taken to the Oconee County Jail.

Play set Damaged: A child's play set was damaged and outside furniture was moved around the backyard of a home in the 1100 block of Station Drive in the Victoria Station Subdivision sometime between Feb. 18 and March 12. The play set will have to be replaced at a cost of $800.  The case is under investigation.

Shoplifting: Two men were taken into custody at Wal-Mart on March 11 for reportedly trying to steal a BB gun and GPS case. Both were charged with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting. One of the men, a 22-year-old from Comer, was also charged with obstruction of an officer for trying to flee and resisting arrest.  The other man, a 19-year-old from Commerce, was found to also be wearing a pair of stolen boots.  Video footage showed him drinking a $2 energy drink without having paid for it.

Shoplifting: Loss prevention officers at Wal-Mart on March 10 reported a woman concealed multiple items in a trashcan that she had placed inside a shopping cart.  They told deputies the trashcan was then covered up by a comforter.  The woman reportedly paid for a couple of items, but did not try to pay for the comforter, trashcan or items inside before attempting to leave the store. The 33-year-old Athens woman was charged with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting.

Rape: A woman met with a deputy on March 10 to report she was drugged and forced to have sexual intercourse against her will at a residence in Oconee County between Feb. 28 and Feb. 29, 2012.  The case was turned over to investigators. 

Simple Assault and Interference with a 911 Call: Deputies responded to a Broadlands Drive residence on March 10 about 7:40 pm where a husband was accused of having hit his wife. 

The man told deputies he had had a verbal argument with her about her not helping around the house and during the course of the argument, he slapped her in her mouth.  According to the report, the man also said he grabbed the phone from his wife while she was talking to 911 because he didn't think he did anything wrong to warrant the police coming to the house.

The woman said her husband had hit her with the back of his hand.  She also said she didn't want her husband to be arrested; she only wanted law enforcement present to mediate.

Deputies charged the man with simple battery and interference with a 911 call.

Financial Transaction Card Fraud: An Athens man reported two unauthorized charges were made on his debit card. One was made in Florida and the other was made in Watkinsville.  The card has since been canceled.

Theft of Cash: A woman reported a large sum of money that had been hidden in her bedroom in two envelopes was taken from her Calls Creek Circle home sometime between 8:45 a.m. on March 9 and 3 p.m. on March 10.  The woman said she had had a party that night and about 38 friends had been at the residence.

See Oconee Patch .