RED BAY | Police here believe they have likely solved a rash of nighttime auto burglaries that have plagued several parts of the city the past couple of weeks – but warn residents to keep their vehicles locked at night, remove any valuables from inside the vehicles, and report anything suspicious.
Police Chief Janna Jackson said officers arrested three individuals, all of Red Bay, on Tuesday in connection with several burglaries. Arrested were
- Megan Parker, charged with Receiving stolen property, fourth degree
- Alexander McDonald, charged with two counts of Theft of Property-Second Degree, two counts Theft of Property-Third Degree, three counts Theft of Property-Fourth Degree, and seven counts of Breaking and Entering a Vehicle.
- Noah Duran, also charged with two counts of Theft of Property-Second Degree, two counts Theft of Property-Third Degree, three counts Theft of Property-Fourth Degree, and seven counts of Breaking and Entering a Vehicle.
Parker was booked at the Red Bay Police Department and released on bond with court pending. McDonald and Duran were being held Wednesday at the Red Bay City Jail pending transfer to the Franklin County Detention Center.
Jackson said reports of burglarized vehicles were widespread over the past couple of weeks, with reports on 10th Street NE, 3rd Street NW, and 5th Street NE, 5th Court Apartments, Redmont Apartments, Hwy. 11 North, 6th Street NW and the Hester Subdivision.
“They were rummaging through vehicles and stealing anything of value,” Jackson said.
One common theme, Jackson said, was all of the vehicles had been left unlocked. Multiple stolen items were recovered from the suspects during the investigation, as well as one firearm that had been taken from a vehicle. While it is alleged McDonald and Duran were actively involved in breaking into the vehicles, Parker was arrested as some of the stolen items that were recovered were in her possession, Jackson said. She also said during the course of the investigation the suspects confessed to the crimes.
The arrests, though, don’t necessarily mean the threat is over or that all of the crimes have been accounted for.
“We would like people in those areas (where the known crimes occurred) to check their vehicles and look for anything missing that they may not have noticed before and report that to the Red Bay Police Department, or Investigator Sgt. Kyle Gober,” Jackson said. “Sgt. Gober is still in the initial phase of the investigation, and there may be more charges to come.”
During the investigation narcotics were also seized, and Jackson reported the preliminary testing revealed the drugs to contain fentanyl.
Anyone with information on these crimes or who may suspect they have also been a victim of a burglary is urged to contact the Red Bay Police Department at 256-356-4455 or Sgt. Gober at 256-291-7926. Jackson also urged everyone to lock their vehicles and remove anything of value from them, especially at night, to discourage break-ins.
