Crime Digest, Weekend Edition, Feb. 13-15, 2021

Published 10:56 am Saturday, February 13, 2021

The following is information compiled from public records of the Milledgeville Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. It is our policy to not disclose the names of victims. These reports do not reflect guilt or innocence. An “arrest” does not always indicate incarceration. The charges filed are noted in the narrative. 

Milledgeville Police Department

Burglary

An officer responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle Feb. 1, in the Walmart parking lot. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a passenger while the passenger’s spouse was sitting in the driver’s seat. The man said that they came from Conyers to drop off 50 to 60 batteries as a donation for the company to repurpose them. He stated that the gate to the battery cage was unlocked when he arrived. The officer spoke with loss prevention personnel who reviewed video surveillance footage. The footage showed that the man exited his vehicle and cut the lock off the battery cage, then began loading batteries into the back of his vehicle. The man was arrested and charged with burglary 2nd degree and possession of tools for the commission of a crime. A book bag containing hand tools was collected on scene as evidence.

Theft by Deception

An officer spoke with a man on Feb. 2 who said that he spoke with another man named “Phillip” who pretended to be a representative of Sheffield Automotive Repair, located in Macon. “Phillip” was attempting to order parts for a vehicle with the VIN No. WP1AA29P89LA12923, for $3,700. The man stated due to Sheffield Automotive Repair not having sufficient amount on its credit account, he was unable to process the purchase for the parts. He stated Sheffield Automotive Repair did not place the order. 

Financial Card Transaction Fraud

An officer was dispatched to a location on West Thomas Street on Feb. 2 in reference to fraudulent activity. The man said that on Feb. 1, he observed several unknown transactions on his credit card statement. He said he had several transactions that amounted to $586.61. He stated the first transactions happened on Jan. 27, 2021, from Google Minecraft resulting in $7.49. Another transaction occurred on Jan. 29, 2021 from Amazon resulting in $30.05 and $339.73 charges. On Jan. 30, 2021 four more transactions occurred from Amazon resulting in $64.16, $26.74, $18.18, and $30.92. The last transaction occurred on Feb. 1, 2021, from Amazon resulting in a $51.34 charge. 

—Compiled by Natalie Davis Linder