Deputies arrested five men Wednesday suspected in a theft ring involving several cases in Washington and Benton counties during late August and early September.
The five suspects, including four adult teenagers, broke into at least six vehicles between Aug. 29 and Sept. 13, stealing items such as guns, knives, money and purses, according to preliminary arrest reports from the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.
A man reported his RV was broken into Aug. 29 and that a floor jack, copper scrap and a refrigerator were stolen. A witness saw the suspects with “a possible refrigerator in their possession,” and another witness saw the suspects jump into a truck and leave the area, the report states.
Deputies tracked the suspects down and conducted surveillance, observing the men throwing items over a bridge from the truck. Authorities followed the men back to a house and saw several of the stolen items in the driveway. The sheriff’s office made contact with the suspects and checked the inside of the house, finding a stolen gun, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies also found burned debris in the driveway, the report states.
Several of the suspects admitted to breaking into the vehicles and stealing the items, worth more than $2,500, according to the sheriff’s office.
Forrest Love, 19, of Prairie Grove, and Brandon Bailey, 18, of Prairie Grove, were arrested in connection with six counts of accomplice breaking or entering, 10 counts of accomplice theft of property and engaging in a criminal enterprise.
Sammie Cameron, 18, of Prairie Grove was arrested on suspicion of seven counts of breaking or entering, 11 counts of theft of property and engaging in a criminal enterprise.
Austin Tovani, 21, of Fayetteville was arrested in connection with one count of theft by receiving and engaging in a criminal enterprise.
Christopher Adkisson, 18, of Lincoln was arrested on suspicion of one count of breaking or entering and one count of theft of property.
All potential charges listed are felonies.
Tovani remained in the Washington County Detention Center on Friday night on $75,000 bond. Adkisson and Bailey were released late this week on $2,500 bond. Cameron remained in the detention center on $2,500 bond. Love was released Wednesday without bond, according to the Washington County Detention Center.
