Clarkesville police have arrested a suspect in the recent rash of auto thefts and burglaries on the city’s south side. Police took Coty Hardman into custody Friday after executing search warrants at a home just outside city limits.
Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett says law enforcement located Hardman at the residence by tracking a stolen phone he was using.
“The owner had the ‘Find My Phone’ app on it and we used GPS to locate it,” Barrett says. “He [Hardman] was using the phone to text about some of the criminal acitivy that had taken place.”
That criminal activity allegedly includes a burglary and two auto break-ins that happened Thursday night, September 8. Police say Hardman forced his way into the dental office of Dr. James Farmer and stole a laptop and muzzleloader rifle. He also allegedly stole tools and equipment from a work van at Aire Serv Heating and Air. Barrett says Hardman left behind some of those tools when he broke into another vehicle in the parking lot at the Clarkesville Post Office.
One thing that set Thursday’s crime spree apart was that the perpetrator forced their way into the dental office. In previous burglaries, there was no forced entry.
Thousands of dollars in stolen items
Since mid-August, five vehicles have been stolen, approximately nine vehicles have been broken into, and at least three businesses in Clarkesville have been burglarized. The crimes have been centered along a two-mile stretch between Ingles grocery on East Louise Street and Robertson Loop Road.
“I can’t link him [Hardman] to all of what we’ve had, but he’s definitely a suspect in them,” says Chief Barrett. He adds, the value of what’s been stolen over the past several weeks reaches “well into the thousands of dollars.”
Information obtained by police indicates Hardman may have tried to sell the stolen items to random individuals. Beyond that, Chief Barrett says, there’s no “rhyme or reason” to the crimes. “He left behind a lot of valuable articles.”
Continued caution
Police have had their eye on Hardman for a while based on evidence and tips they received from the public. New information in the case indicates he may have had an accomplice.
“It’s still under investigation, but we have reason to believe there may be another suspect,” Barrett says. It is that person who police now believe may be the man seen in surveillance images the police department publicly distributed back in August.
Police have charged Hardman with burglary, entering auto, and two counts of theft by taking. They expect to file more charges against him as the investigation develops.
While word of an arrest is welcome news, Barrett urges the public not to let down their guard.
“I would still urge the public to use extreme caution and continue to keep things locked. Even though we’re a small community and don’t have the crime rate of a big metropolitan city, crime still exists,” says Barrett. “It makes our job easier when the public uses a common sense approach of keeping valuables out of sight and keeping vehicles and doors locked.”
