Vehicle and Other Items Stolen

A man living at a residence on Paces Creek Road in Trenton went out of town in March only to return Saturday, April 26, and find a truck and several other items had been stolen from his home. According to a report filed with the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, the stolen black 1993 4×4 S10 Chevy truck had been left on jacks in the man’s front yard. Along with the truck, the metal tool box on the back of it and various types of tools that were in the tool box were also stolen. Also missing from the premises were two chain saws and a pressure washer. The victim’s house was also ransacked, and a flat screen television as well as a box of checkbooks and an impact drill were taken from inside the home. In all, the estimated worth of the stolen items was listed as over $5500. This case has been turned over to the investigative unit of the ECSO.

Three Cars Broken Into in Two Separate Incidents

One Arrest Made in Connection With Two of the Three Crimes

A 1998 Chevrolet truck was broken into sometime between Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, at a home on New Delaughter Drive in North Augusta (Edgefield County) according to the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office. In a report filed by the ECSO, the victim states that sometime during the aforementioned time frame, his truck was entered, and a GPS unit as well as an electric razor were taken from the vehicle. The truck had been parked in the victim’s driveway and was left unlocked. Deputies collected possible evidence from the scene and are continuing the investigation into this crime.

In a separate incident, two vehicles at a home on Cowboy Way in Trenton were broken into during the early morning hours of Friday, April 25. In this case, however, a suspect was apprehended. According to an ECSO report, the homeowner stated he was awakened by his wife when she saw the interior lights on inside one of his vehicles. The victim said when he got up he observed someone walking around in his yard with a flashlight. After calling 911, the victim went downstairs and saw a red sedan pulling out of his yard. Going to inspect his vehicle, the victim found that two vehicles in his yard had been broken into. One of the vehicles’ doors had been jarred open and all of its compartments were opened. From the other vehicle, a knife and a black GPS unit were found to be missing.

As a deputy was in route to the crime scene on Cowboy Way, he noticed on Windy Ridge Road a vehicle matching the description of the suspected vehicle in the auto break-ins. The deputy performed a traffic stop on the vehicle, and the driver stated she was lost. She did, however, admit to having been at an unknown house off Windy Ridge Road earlier, stating her GPS was not working, and it had directed her there.

A black knife fitting the description of the one stolen from Cowboy Way was found in the suspect’s possession. The victim in this incident was ultimately able to identify the knife as belonging to him, and he also identified the woman’s car as being the vehicle he saw leaving the scene.

After arresting and transporting the suspect to the Edgefield County Detention Center, a GPS matching the description of the one stolen from Cowboy Way was found on the back seat of the transporting deputy’s car. The victim identified that GPS as being his, and a search of the addresses in the unit confirmed such.

Carla Michelle James, 47, of Aiken, SC, was arrested and charged with two counts of auto breaking and entering in connection with these two break-ins on Cowboy Way.

A/C Units Stolen

Two air condition units were reported stolen from a home on Hwy 19 on Friday, April 25. According to an Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office report, the homeowner has been away from the residence for sometime, and the home had not been checked on in several weeks. The two units were taken from the backside of the home and were valued at $4000. The scene was processed for evidence, and the investigation into this crime is continuing.

Edgefield County Man Loses $3000 to Fraud

An Edgefield County man lost $3000 from his bank account as a result of fraud according to an Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office report. The man stated that a company identified as Zoom.com first transferred the $3000 from his account without his consent to an unknown account on April 14. Since that time, the same company has attempted twice more, both attempts being on April 23, to transfer a total of $1618 from his account. Each of these additional attempts, however, failed. Additionally, in each instance, the victim received a text to his Verizon cell phone stating the transfers had been made by Zoom.com. The victim stated he has contacted his bank in reference to this fraud.  This incident has been turned over to the investigative unit of the ECSO.