Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Four Arrests Made After Sheriff Spots Suspicious Truckload of Scrap Metal

The metal had been taken from a property on Union Church Road, an area that had previously been targeted by thieves, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Four suspected metal thieves were booked into the Oconee County Jail Tuesday after Sheriff Scott Berry spotted a truck overloaded with scrap metal in an area of the county that had previously been targeted by thieves. According to a news release, Berry was on Union Church Road just before 1 p.m. and saw the truck pulling out of a wooded area.  He initiated a traffic stop and recognized one of the four individuals from other theft and burglary incidents. The property owners confirmed the metal in the truck bed had been taken from their barn and deputies also noticed "fresh" tire tracks near the storage area, the release noted. Watkinsville residents Christopher Brian Fattig, 36; Michael Donovan Schmidt, 43; Ann Marie Porter, 41; and 26-year…

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Sheriff's Office Hopes Marking Metal Will Deter Thieves

Citizens are asked to use stencils and paint, supplied by the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, to mark air conditioning units and other metals subject to theft.

In an effort to deter metal thieves, the Oconee County Sheriff's Office is asking members of the community to mark air conditioning units and other metals subject to theft in the county. Stencils bearing the words "IF SOLD CALL OCONEE COUNTY 706-769-5665" and paint are available at the Sheriff's Office for citizens to borrow and use. "It is our intent to help our citizens mark any air conditioning unit that is left unattended for any length of time in order to reduce it's usefulness to thieves, and aid in the recovery and recognition of stolen AC compressors," a news release via social media stated. In September, Sheriff Scott Berry told the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors there is a metal theft 'crisis."   Tougher state legislation…

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Bishop Man Charged in Attempted Metal Theft

Deputies apprehended the suspect while he was dismantling an air conditioning unit early Wednesday morning, authorities say.

Oconee County Sheriff's deputies caught a would-be thief red-handed early Wednesday morning, Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry reported. A deputy saw a man purchasing cotton gloves at RaceTrac on Macon Highway around 2:30 a.m.   According to an incident report, the deputy then began looking for the vehicle the man was driving and found it parked in front of the  GSI Global Synergy, Inc. building in the 8700 block of Macon Highway. A second deputy responded and the man was found behind the building, where he appeared to be dismantling an air conditioner, the report noted. Tools, including a pair of heavy wire cutters, a pair of shears, a screwdriver, and a socket wrench, and parts from the air conditioner were allegedly found in the suspect…

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Metal Theft Cases Top Crime Report

The following information was gathered from Oconee County Sheriff's Office reports and highlights incidents reported Oct. 10- Oct. 16.

A little over a week ago, five air conditioning units were stolen from Bethabara Baptist Church. More incidents of metal theft have been reported to the Oconee County Sheriff's Office over the last week. Recently Sheriff Scott Berry gave a presentation to the Georgia Farm Bureau, where he spoke about the ongoing metal theft "crisis" in Georgia. Read more. Here is a summary of other incidents: Theft: An employee of the ATT store at 1750 Epps Bridge Parkway reported the theft of a Motorola Atrix 4G entertainment center.  A man purchased a cell phone and accessories on Sept. 21 and while an associate was activating the phone, he took the Atrix from the counter, left the store and put it in a vehicle, the employee told deputies. The incident …

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Sheriff Berry Tells Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors There is a Metal Theft 'Crisis'

In his role as president of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry spoke to the group at the end of September.

"Metal theft continues to be a prevalent problem across the state." That's what Oconee County Chief Deputy Lee Weems wrote in his column on Oconee Patch last month. It's the same message Sheriff Scott Berry brought to the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors when asked to give a presentation on the subject at the end of September. Tougher state legislation better regulating the sale and transport of nonferrous metals would help curb the metal theft "crisis," the Georgia Farm Bureau reported Berry said at the meeting.  It's an issue the Georgia General Assembly may take up next year, he added. Berry went on to say that a statewide electronic database of sellers' information and a requirement that permits for the transport of more than 10 …

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Cassie Brown

12:16 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

This is a major issue. http://oconee.patch.com/articles/thief-strikes-bethabara-baptist. When thieves strike churches and wipe out their AC units, sure their insurance company will pay for them, but the church will have to fork over a deductible, plus their rates will likely be raised when their coverage renews even it even renews with the same company. Those costs are money they could have used …   more ›

From the Sheriff's Office

Latest News and Notes from the Oconee County Sheriff's Office

Chief Deputy Lee Weems discusses the retirement of Deputy Mike Taylor, metal theft as a prevalent problem, and mental health.

Another Retirement Last month, I reported to you that two long-time members of your Sheriff’s Office had decided to take the county’s early retirement package.  Since I wrote that piece, Deputy Mike Taylor, known affectionately as “Pops” around the Office, has also decided to retire. Deputy Taylor has been a peace officer since 1968.  He previously retired from the Snellville Police Department where he was a Captain and served a stint as interim chief.  “Pops” is well regarded around the Office for his experience and his sense of humor.   Here, he has served in the Patrol Division and most recently in Court Services.  I have numerous great “Pops” stories that just don’t lend themselves well to written word as it would be impossible to …

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