Saturday, Jun. 27, 2009

Men accused in more than 100 car break-ins in Lee County

Lee County authorities arrested this week a group of Phenix City men suspected in more than 100 car break-ins.

Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robert Bryan Haefner, 20, Kevin Dewayne Watson, 22, Kerry David Watson, 20, and Christopher Brian Hammock, 19, Wednesday. Authorities said the men may be responsible for a string of more than 100 incidents in which cars parked in the victims’ yards or driveways were broken into at night and emptied of any valuables.

Each has been charged with four counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle as well as theft of property in the first degree, theft of property in the second degree and theft of property in the third degree.

The four are being held in the Lee County Detention Facility with bonds of $30,000 each.

Lee County deputies also arrested two more men Thursday for several car break-ins in Smiths.

Colton Jay Crane, 19, and a 17-year-old, both of Smith Station, each was charged with three counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and three counts of theft of property in the third degree. Authorities did not note in their news release whether these arrests were related to Wednesday’s.

Crane and the 17-year-old are believed to be connected to several car break-ins that occurred early Thursday on Lee Road 2095 and 2097 in Smiths. A victim had called deputies at around 1:45 a.m. CDT to report strange noises outside the house. Authorities found the young men in the general area and evidence at the scene fingered the two as suspects.

Crane is being held on $12,000 bond in the Lee County Detention Facility. The 17-year-old was released to his parents.