By Walter Geiger The investigation into an alleged theft ring headquartered at a three-building complex on Crawley Road near Orchard Hill continues to expand after additional stolen items were found, according to sheriff Brad White. ’There were a couple of welders out there. We knew they were there. We saw them. We didn’t know they were stolen. As all this was going on, someone went out there and stole them again. So, we got additional warrants and went out there and seized everything. It will take quite some time to go through it all,’ the sheriff said. The ring was uncovered after Butts deputies set out bait trailers with GPS tracking devices in them. One was stolen and tracked to the Crawley Road complex. Initial reports indicated a haul of over $250,000 in stolen vehicles and equipment. That total is now increasing. Firefighting equipment valued at $20,000 stolen from the nearby Morgan Dairy Road fire station was recovered when the complex was raided. Three people, all of whom lived among the Crawley Road buildings, were arrested. Joseph Timothy Bradley, 44, was charged with two counts of theft by receiving stolen property and possession of meth. Robert Joseph Mitchell, 48, and Kara Michelle Roberts, 29, were charged with two count theft by receiving stolen property. More charges are expected. Sheriff White reported a piece of equipment stolen from the City of Griffin had been recovered in Florida. Bradley’s wallet was found under the seat after he apparently misplaced it. Roberts was released at 12:33 a.m. May 17 on a $20,000 property bond. Mitchell and Bradley remain in jail with bonds set at $25,000 and $30,000 respectively.
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