DAVIS

Gwinnett metal theft unit makes first case with Barrow County man

Posted by
Staff Writer
in Public Safety Archives
Friday, November 18. 2011
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A Barrow County man is suspect in the theft of several steel I-beams from an Auburn grading company after security camera footage installed by the company led investigators to the suspect’s Hoschton residence.

Thomas Lee Davis, 56, was tracked down at his home and charged with felony theft by taking after detectives were led to and interviewed him, according to a press release issued by Gwinnett County police.

The case is the first of a new metal theft unit within the Gwinnett County Police Department’s criminal investigations division, which aims to solve copper and other metal theft cases, as well as to ensure the compliance of secondary metal recyclers with state law.

Police found fresh tire prints and footprints at the scene and the security footage indicated that a gray pickup truck, and its tag number, had been recorded transporting the steel I-beams.

With the assistance of Barrow County deputies, Gwinnett detectives tracked the stolen I-beams to a secondary metal recycler in Auburn, where they obtained a receipt of sale.

The I-beams were recovered and returned to the company, GP enterprises of Highway 124. Detectives are additionally investigating the likelihood that the suspect had accomplices in the theft.

“The metal recycler’s documents were “instrumental in confirming the crime and recovering the victim’s property,” the press release states. “Ensuring the compliance of these recyclers will be an important part of the new unit’s mission.”
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#1 Anonymous on 11/19/11 at 03:27 AM [Reply]
As a victim of this type of criminal, I hope they put this SOB under the jail for a long time.

I had an air conditioning unit damaged while an attemp to steal it before the thieves were scared off...cost me nearly a grand to repair it.

These worthless gutter dwellers are too lazy to get a regular job. Much easier to just steal someone else's property.
#2 Vandalized many times. on 11/23/11 at 10:10 PM [Reply]
I know what you mean. I have had thousand of dollars of metal stollen form several place that I own. I do hope they catch them all, but, not very realistic. I hope these people who get real creative in bad times, realize they are stealing. I do believe what you send out will come back to haunt you eventually. If they never have to pay for what they do, then we can only hope there will be a severe Karma waiting in the end.
#2.1 Jack Legg on 11/24/11 at 07:59 AM [Reply]
Maybe you should set up a stake out operation. bait an area with some copper pipes and set up in a sniper position with your deer rifle, you could pile up the dead sleeze bags and save everyone some money. I wonder if that would be considered illegal , like hunting over a baited field.
#3 Crooked scrap yards on 12/16/11 at 11:06 AM [Reply]
I saw that our former chief deputy and former DA who now both work in Stephens County seized two corrupt scrap yards up there and arrested the owners and a bunch of other people for buying stolen copper, cars and other metal. Channel 2 said it was a ten month investigation. They charged them with RICO and are forfeiting the businesses!

Good for them! Why can't that be done here?
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