Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced today the end of a three month investigation into burglaries in the Northwest area of Richland County and the sale of stolen items from those burglaries on the internet. Sheriff Lott stated that on July 24, 2008 investigators searched the home of James Miller (#8 Mystic Way, Columbia, SC 29229) – the search warrant was obtained after the department received community tips that Miller was receiving and selling stolen goods. As a result of this search warrant investigators found stolen items from car break-ins and burglaries from across the midlands – to include items stolen from burglaries and car break ins in Lower Richland and Northwest Richland County, West Columbia, Lexington County, City of Chapin, Town of Lexington and the City of Columbia. Miller has been selling the items soon after receiving them from various thieves in the Columbia area, on EBay. Sheriff Lott stated that the items were sold to Miller, he packaged and shipped them and all of this was done so quickly that the trail ends with Miller. During the search warrant several packages were found that had just been packaged for shipment and contained stolen goods. Miller was arrested at the time of the search warrant and charged with receiving stolen goods over $1000 and that additional charges are forthcoming in connection with the goods found during the search warrant. Sheriff Lott added that investigators are continuing to look through the recovered property and work to link the items with victims – the department also has photographs from various memory cards and cameras that were found during the search. Sheriff Lott is asking anyone who has been the victim of a crime where a camera was stolen, please go to www.rcsd.net/gallery/stolen.html and view the pictures that were recovered – if you see any of your photographs, please contact investigator Gwyn at 576-3485. Sheriff Lott would like to remind citizens that the Community Action Team can come to your home or business to conduct a FREE security analysis or to hold safety training and awareness seminars for your family, friends or co-workers. Please contact the Community Action Team at 576-3118 or go to www.rcsd.net for contact information or to view additional FREE crime prevention information.
August 8, 2008 | |||
