CCSO uncovers theft ring
Detectives find several stolen vehicles, ATVs, trailers and boats
BY LELAND ACKER

The impound l lot at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office filled up quickly with stolen property recovered when sheriff's investigators uncovered an organized theft ring. Items were stolen from Cherokee, Rusk, Nacogdoches and Smith counties, and were stashed throughout Cherokee County. PHOTO: LT. CHRIS WHITE

Acting on information obtained during a burglary investigation, detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) uncovered an organized theft ring, according to a press release from Lt. Chris White of the CCSO. The report stated that Investigators Jonathan Hughes and Jamie Beene traveled to a residence southwest of Rusk on Sept. 10, where they located an assortment of stolen vehicles, ATVs, trailers, tools, clothing and furniture. The investigation and recovery of property continued through Thursday.

Det. Keith Radcliff said one suspect is in custody and the CCSO is anticipating other arrests as the investigation continues.

Stolen items were recovered from various locations in Cherokee County. Such items include 10 trailers, two boats, a tractor, four vehicles, several ATVs and a golf cart. Det. Radcliff said boat motors and trailers were also recovered.

Sheriff's investigators recovered many stolen items during a burglary investigation on Sept. 10 by Detectives Jonathan Hughes and Jamie Beene. Among the items recovered were these utility trailers, antique furniture and ATVs.

Stolen items were so numerous, the sheriff 's impound lot was overfilled, causing deputies to have to store things at other locations such as wrecker yards and secured facilities.

Det. Radcliff said the items recovered were stolen from Cherokee, Smith, Rusk and Nacogdoches counties.

Lt. White said the suspects were likely intending to sell the stolen property.

"They would sell (the stolen vehicles)," Lt. White said. "Depending on how organized they are, sometimes they transport the stolen vehicles to Mexico. There is a high demand for heavy-duty fourwheel drive vehicles."

Lt. White said the owners of the stolen property have been notified and all owners of the stolen property have been accounted for.

This camouflaged l Jeep was one of the stolen vehicles recovered when sheriff deputies uncovered an organized theft ring on Sept. 10. Lt. Chris White said all of the owners of the stolen property have been identified and contacted.

"We haven't recovered anything that we don't know who it belongs to," he said. "People need to be reminded how important it is to have good identifying information on their property before it is stolen."

Lt. White said without that information, recovering stolen property can be difficult. He suggested that people maintain records of their car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), license number, serial number, make and model, and any identifying marks.

"For example, if your child spray-paints his bicycle black, and some of that black paint gets on your four-wheeler, that would be an identifiable mark," he said.

Lt. White said the investigation is ongoing. Det. Hughes and Beene are heading up the investigation.