Arrests made in string of auto burglaries
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one adult and two juveniles in connection with a string of automobile burglaries in Sumter County during the past two weeks.
Thomas Guy Franklin, 17, of 9562 Wash Davis Road, Summerton, along with a 15-year-old male Sumter resident, and a 16-year-old male Sumter resident, were taken into custody Wednesday morning. They will be charged with multiple counts of breaking and entering an automobile. The 15-year-old was taken into custody by deputies responding to reports of a burglary in progress, while Franklin and the other juvenile were arrested later in the day.
At least 17 automobile burglaries are being attributed to the suspects, so far, including several occurring outside homes in the Meadowcroft community Wednesday morning. Reported stolen from the vehicles include wallets, electronic equipment, hunting equipment and at least one handgun.
In addition to the Sumter County area burglaries, investigators think the suspects could also be responsible for a series of Clarendon County incidents and are working with Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office to determine any connection to the suspects.
In almost all of the Sumter County incidents, victims reported their vehicles were unlocked at the times of the alleged burglaries.
“This illustrates the importance of making sure your vehicle is locked at all times, even when it’s parked at home,” said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “Making sure there aren’t any valuable items in clear view inside the car can also be a strong deterrent in preventing a break-in.”
Franklin will be held at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center where he will await a bond hearing, while the two juveniles will be transported to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Columbia.
The incidents remain under investigation and more charges and arrests are possible.