Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Bike Thefts Reported to Oconee Sheriff's Office and Watkinsville Police

Four bicycles were snatched during the past two weeks.

Several bicycles have disappeared from Oconee County homes lately. Most recently, a woman reported the theft of a $130 bike from the 2000 block of Malcom Bridge Road.  It went missing sometime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on May 14. The Oconee County Sheriff's Office was also notified of a bike theft on May 9.  A green Mongoose brand bike that had been left near the entrance of an Oak Drive driveway on May 8 wasn't there the following morning. On May 6,  a VFW Drive resident told Watkinsville Police that someone took two children’s bicycles, valued at $200, from inside of his garage. The theft occurred during the daytime hours. Don’t miss any Oconee news. Subscribe to Oconee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on …

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Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Burglars Ransack Oconee County Homes, Nab Jewelry and Electronics

Three burglaries were reported to the sheriff's office on Wednesday.

The burglaries of three homes Wednesday afternoon in Oconee County are under investigation.  In one instance, residents of Northwoods Road left for only about an hour -- from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. -- and returned to a ransacked house. Burglars made off with jewelry valued at $10,000, a television and speakers. Two televisions and power tools were snatched from a home on Barnett Ridge during approximately the same time frame, 1-3 p.m.  Someone had forced open the garage door. About four miles away, a resident of Travis Drive told deputies she noticed something was awry when she arrived home from work about 6:30 p.m. She'd been away since 7 that morning. Several lights were turned on that normally are not and the front door wouldn't open …

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Watkinsville Police Blotter

Barrow County Man Accused of Stealing from 90-year-old Watkinsville Veteran

Police say 47-year-old Paul Kevin Harris of Statham was paid nearly $28,000 by the victim over the course of less than one year for landscaping services that weren't performed. An arrest isn't a conviction.

Watkinsville police with the assistance of the Barrow County Sheriff's Office on Monday arrested a Statham man who allegedly bilked $28,000 out of a 90-year-old military veteran from Watkinsville in less than one year under the guise of providing landscaping services. Police Chief Lee O'Dillon says the Western Judicial Circuit's District Attorney's Office helped with the investigation, which was launched in early April after the victim's family members examined his bank account records. The victim had written 38 checks to Paul Kevin Harris, ranging in amounts of $25-$1,200 each, he explained. The lawn work was never performed, O'Dillon said, but Harris kept returning to the elderly man demanding more money. The victim told police that he …

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Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Burglar Snatches Guns, Hunting Bow from Old Bishop Road Home

Electronics were also stolen during the break-in this past weekend.

Oconee County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the burglary of a home in the 2000 block of Old Bishop Road.  The residence was forcibly entered sometime between 6 p.m. on March 29 and 3 p.m. on April 1, according to an incident report. Deputies were told by the complainant that three shotguns, two rifles and a scope had been taken along with a hunting bow, two televisions, a digital camera and video recorder and an iPad2. The victim was reached by phone and said he would verify if other items were missing when he returned home. The total value of the items is estimated at $11,150. Don’t miss any Oconee news. Subscribe to Oconee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Stolen Car Found in Savannah But Suspected Wallet Thief Remains on the Lam

Tony Hornsby continues to elude authorities.

  Savannah police have discovered the sedan Tony Hornsby was driving when he allegedly pilfered wallets from employees at several Athens, Oconee and Barrow County businesses. But no Hornsby. According to the Athens Banner Herald, Hornsby was released from a Florida work camp in January 2013. He then came to an uncle's house in the Stonehenge neighborhood in West Athens, accompanied by a records of arrests in Colorado and Nevada and extensive convictions in Florida. Hornsby left Athens--in the car he stole from his uncle--on March 25, authorities believe, the day police identified him as the alleged thief from footage at Timothy Road Elementary School and other facilities, the story says. Instead of returning to Florida, as authorities …

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

The 54-year-old man suspected of stealing wallets from Barrow, Clarke and Oconee locations may be headed to Florida, 11Alive reports.

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 …

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Area Authorities Searching for Theft Suspect

Wallets have been snatched from businesses in Athens-Clarke, Barrow and Oconee counties.

Between March 15 and 19 five incidents of theft in Athens-Clarke County were reported involving a middle-aged black man. Investigators believe the suspect is the same in all cases. Anyone with information on these cases is asked to contact Detective Lou Pasqualetti at 706-353-4218 X139. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 706-613-3342. Here are the incidents: • In the 3000 block of the Atlanta Hwy – On March 15th at 2:15pm, a black man, 5'11” to 6'01”, mid 40's, close cropped hair, and no facial hair, wandered in the business for unknown reasons. When challenged, he stated he was there to prepare to clean the carpet. Employees confirmed he was not a carpet cleaner. When he left, an employee found …

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Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Theft at Barberitos in Oconee Caught on Video

Employees report two wallets were taken from the Epps Bridge restaurant's office.

Oconee County Sheriff's deputies on Saturday were called to Barberitos on Epps Bridge Parkway in response to a theft of two wallets belonging to employees. Cash and gift cards collectively worth about $250 were inside of the wallets, and one of the victims also reported a set of keys missing. The manager told deputies there was video footage of a man entering the restaurant's office, taking the wallets and then leaving, but a description of a suspect wasn't detailed in the incident report. The case is listed as active.

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Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Camera, Cash Stolen from Chiropractic Office in Oconee

The theft occurred sometime last weekend.

A burglary reportedly occurred sometime over the weekend at Davenport Family Chiropractic. According to a report at the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, sometime between 1 p.m. on March 9 and 8:45 a.m. on March 11, someone came into the business and took an older-model digital camera valued around $100 and two envelopes.  One contained $92 and the other $300.  

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Oconee County Sheriff's Office Crime Report

Camping Gear Stolen from Trailer on Hog Mountain Road

Someone broke into the hunting cabin sometime during the past month and stole $600 worth of items.

The owner of a trailer that is used as a hunting cabin on a wooded lot on Hog Mountain Road near Garrett Road recently reported a burglary. The man told Oconee County Sheriff's deputies that sometime between Feb. 10 and March 10, someone broke into the trailer and removed several items. According to a report, the trailer door had been pulled out from the bottom and all of the drawers and cabinets had been searched. Folding chairs, propane tanks, a fire extinguisher, a lantern, a heater, a plastic tool box, a CD player and four coats collectively valued at $600 were taken.  Keys and a lock were also missing. Other members of the hunting lease were notified about the incident. Subscribe to Oconee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook …

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