Cartersville Police have arrested five individuals in connection to a recent rash of entering auto thefts.
Officers of the Cartersville Police Department responded to the area of Carter Grove Subdivision in reference to several subjects entering unlocked vehicles this past Sunday morning at approximately 5:00. Officers responded quickly and located the suspect vehicle before it could flee the area. Two of the suspects were taken into custody at this time without incident. Two other suspects fled from the vehicle on foot. A patrol officer was able to apprehend one of the fleeing suspects, after a brief foot chase. The other fleeing suspect was able to elude officers at the scene.
Members of the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and began to interview witnesses and gather additional information. It soon became apparent that these same suspects were responsible for multiple thefts in various locations over the past several weeks.
As the investigation progressed, the juvenile suspect who fled was identified and later apprehended. An additional member of the group was also identified and arrested later the same day. Investigators conducted multiple interviews and conducted searches resulting in the recovery of multiple pieces of stolen property including four stolen firearms. Based on the investigation to date, approximately a dozen entering auto theft cases have been cleared with more to follow. Investigators with the Cartersville Police Department are working closely with investigators from the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding jurisdictions to identify additional victims and to solve additional crimes.
The following group of individuals have been identified as being responsible for multiple entering auto crimes within the City of Cartersville and surrounding Bartow County area: 18-year-old Andria Downs of Cartersville, 17-year-old Dakota Campbell of Cartersville, 17 year-old Mia Wilson of Cartersville, 17-year-old James Weiss of White, and a 16-year-old juvenile.
The suspects allegedly committed entering auto thefts from multiple subdivisions to include the Carter Grove, River Shoals, Benham Circle, Spicewood, River Station, and Fox Fire subdivisions. The Cartersville Police Department is requesting any additional victims of recent entering auto thefts to come forward and contact either the Cartersville Police Department or Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.
The Cartersville Police Department again asks that residents lock your doors and do not leave valuables in your vehicles.