A surveillance camera captured the suspect’s van parked outside Coin Laundry in Clarkesville on December 18, 2016 (PHOTO/Clarkesville PD Facebook)
A Franklin County man charged with burglarizing two businesses in Clarkesville is suspected of pulling off a string of burglaries and thefts across Northeast Georgia.
Clarkesville Police arrested Thomas Wilburn Abernathy on January 28 as he and a female companion were attempting to sell stolen items to a local business. The couple was given away by their vehicle, according to a police press release. Officers spotted the 1985 Chevrolet van at the business just outside city limits and called Sheriff’s deputies. It’s the same van believed to have been used during burglaries and thefts at the USA Shop and Coin Laundry in Clarkesville last December.
Among the items police say the couple was attempting to sell, music equipment stolen from a church in Franklin County.
Police say further investigation revealed Abernathy had been involved in numerous burglaries in the cities of Clarkesville, Cornelia, Baldwin, Toccoa and Lavonia, as well as Habersham, Stephens, Franklin and Banks Counties.
A search of his home revealed a “significant quantity of stolen items,” the release states.
Also involved in the investigation were investigators from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Cornelia Police Department, Baldwin Police Department, Toccoa Police Department, Lavonia Police Department, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The 42-year old Abernathy is charged with burglary in connection with the incidents at USA Shop and Coin Laundry. He’s also charged with criminal damage to property, two counts of theft by taking and two counts of criminal trespass.
More arrests and charges could be pending.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Clarkesville Police Department at 706-754-5390.
Updated 2/9/17
