LAGRANGE, Ga. — Police say a group made away with thousands of dollars over Memorial Day weekend by using a cutting torch to sear a hole into a safe.
But investigators now say their success was shortlived with five suspects in this high-temperature heist in jail.
On May 28, deputies in Troup County were sent to the 2500 block of Mobley Bridge Road in reference to a safe that had been broken into.
When they arrived, the resident told deputies that one or more persons had forced their way into the home through a window at some point between Sunday and Tuesday. They then made their way to the safe.
Clues at the scene - namely burn marks - suggested something extremely hot was used to cut into the protective container which contained thousands of dollars. Burn marks also ended up being what investigators warned the public to be wary of since the cash - mostly $20 and $100 bills - had possibly been scorched by fire.
Authorities haven't said if the charred bills ended up being a useful clue but they were able to eventually close in on the people they believe were involved.
Arrests made in blow torch safe burglary
The first arrests came on Friday when a search warrant at 801 Forrest Avenue in Troup County led to 21-year-old James Bowles and 28-year-old Jamie Leighann Parks. Bowls was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by receiving, crossing guard lines with intoxicants and violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. Parks was charged with theft by receiving, probation violation and conspiracy to commit burglary. Investigators also recovered a stolen handgun, jewelry and $1,496 during their search.
On Tuesday came another search warrant and another arrest - this time at 221 Pinehaven Drive. There, 47-year-old Gregory Todd Cox was arrested and charged with theft by taking, two counts of party to the crime of burglary, violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of drug-related objects and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. They found stolen vehicle titles, ammunition, a pistol two rifles, a shotgun and $3,031 in stolen cash at the location.
The very same day they also executed a search warrant at 103-B Cooley Road and arrested 45-year-old Morgan Christopher Storey on two counts of burglary, theft by taking, violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and possession of drug-related objects. Ammunition, two rifles a shotgun and $9,589 in stolen cash were recovered.
And finally, on Tuesday, investigators arrested 38-year-old Dorothy Christine Olko on two counts of burglary, theft by taking and possession of drug-related objects. She was found a local motel.
The investigation has since turned up about $5,400 at a local bank that the Troup County Sheriff's Office believes is related to the case.
Despite there already being five people in jail in connection to the safe burglary, the sheriff's office cautions that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible. Anyone with information on the case can call investigators at 706-883-1616 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000.
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