Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Authorities Looking Into Reports Of Stolen Vehicles
Local law enforcement officers have been called upon to investigate three separate incidents involving stolen vehicles in the past few days.
On Friday deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department were sent to initiate an investigation at a home on Church Street in Summertown. The resident reported his 1997 Dodge truck had been stolen while he slept.
The victim reported that he and an acquaintance had been playing pool earlier, but that he had taken a nap. He said he awakened to find that both the acquaintance and his truck were gone.
A friend at the house received a call shortly afterwards, indicating that the victim’s truck was being towed from the scene of a wreck on Big Swann Creek Road in Lewis County. Authorities reported that the individual driving the truck had left the scene.
As a result of the investigation deputies obtained warrants, charging Brandon Lee Swafford with the crime of theft of property. At the time reports were filed the warrant had not yet been served.
Officials at Massey Motors, 1201 North Locust Avenue, Lawrenceburg reported to officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department Monday morning that a gold, 1999 GMC Suburban had been stolen from the lot. Owners said they believed the crime to be related to a recent break-in. The vehicle is valued at $4,000.
A West Point resident stopped by the sheriff’s department Monday morning to report a 1996 Dodge Ram and 8’x16’ trailer had been stolen from his 716 South Circle, Lawrenceburg property.
He told deputies he had been unable to move the truck due to a frozen hub. He said that the dual-axle utility trailer had been parked at a different location on the property.
It had no wheel wells and the rails had been removed with a cutting torch. Loss was estimated to be $3,850. The victim said that at the time the Suburban was stolen it had no tires. They were stolen during a separate theft incident.
All three crimes remain under investigation at the current time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the appropriate department.
