Stolen weed trimmer key to Vidalia thefts case?

Published 2:24 am Friday, May 12, 2017

VIDALIA — A stolen string trimmer might lead Vidalia police to make more arrests for several town thefts.

Vidalia police arrested Andrew A. Brown and Richard N. Smith Wednesday for allegedly taking a string trimmer out of a garage. Police were also able to connect Brown to a separate burglary.

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Vidalia Police Investigator Clint Robinson said Brown could face additional charges and other arrests could be pending.

Robinson said last Friday a resident of North Oak Street reported a string trimmer was stolen from the garage. Robinson said neighbors reported that two males allegedly ran into the garage and then ran down the road with the trimmer when a neighbor confronted them.

Further down the road, Robinson said another person snapped pictures of the two running with the trimmer.

In searching Brown’s residence, Robinson said he was able to connect Brown to a December 2016 burglary on Walnut Street in which a television and a gallon bucket of change were reportedly stolen.

Robinson said other possible stolen items were located at both Brown and Smith’s residences, but the string trimmer, which is valued at $300 to $350, was not recovered.

Smith, 23, 203 Pine St., Vidalia, was charged with burglary of inhabited dwelling.

Brown, 27, 604 Walnut St., Vidalia, was charged with two counts of burglary of an inhabited dwelling.

Brown and Smith were in jail Thursday, Brown on a $28,000 bond and Smith a $14,000 bond.