Soldier’s Belongings Stolen While She Was Deployed

A Johnston woman serving in the military thought she had secured her belongings by placing them in a storage unit while she was deployed.  However, when she returned to the storage unit Tuesday, Jan. 21, she found the unit completely empty.  According to a report filed by the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, the woman had placed all her personal belongings in a unit at Johnston Self Storage in March of 2013.  She stated that she was the only person who had a key to the facility, and a lock was on the door.  However, when she returned for her belongings Tuesday, she found her things missing, the lock was gone, and no apparent damage to the latch on the unit.  Among the approximately $4,000 worth of items taken from the woman’s unit was a queen sized bed set with mattress, a washer and dryer, an flat screen television, a stereo system, various pieces of furniture, clothes, linens, and decorations.  The storage facility reportedly did give the soldier a refund, and she did have renter’s insurance.  Johnston Self Storage does have security cameras and is fenced in, and the only access point is through a front gate to which a code is needed to gain entrance.

High Tech Methods Employed to Locate Stolen Goods

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia employed high tech methods to locate and retrieve goods stolen from a business in Evans, GA.  According to a report filed by the ECSO, an investigator with the CCSO contacted the ECSO, —-, Jan. 27, to notify them that one of several items stolen from Champlin Enterprises had been traced to a location on Casalina Drive, North Augusta (Edgefield County).  The report details how a stolen lap top that had a tracking device installed in it showed the computer to be located at the aforementioned location.  The ECSO obtained a search warrant for the residence and found the stolen laptop along with another laptop, a Kirby vaccum cleaner, a cell phone, and five sets of keys.  The occupant of the home subsequently admitted to taking the items from the business where he had at one time in the recent past been employed.  The suspect further implicated that he had an accomplice in the crime but would not name that person.  The man was arrested and charged with possession and receiving stolen goods.  Interestingly, the suspect had used the computer while it was in his possession to check to see if there were any outstanding warrants for him in any of the surrounding counties.  The man was transported to the Edgefield County Detention Center without incident.

Firearms and Other Items Stolen in Burglary

The Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary call at a residence on Edwards Drive, North Augusta (Edgefield County), Monday, Jan. 27.  According to a report filed by the ECSO, the homeowner of the residence returned home Monday night to find his back door open and his front door kicked in.  It was determined that a Winchester 30-06 with a scope as well as a zip-up camoflauge gun sleeve, a 12 inch Kicker speaker, and a 32 inch Sanyo flat screen television had been stolen from the home.  The ECSO did collect evidence from the scene and also followed a trail of footprints  leading from the back of the home to Dusty Lane and then eventually ending at a residence on Ridge Road.  The occupant of that residence stated he had heard someone on the road earlier but did not see anything.  He consented to a search of his home, but none of the missing items were located.  The investigation into this crime in ongoing.