CCSO warns against mailing checks

Staff Reports

October 02, 2008 11:21 pm

— MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be wary of mailing personal checks from home.
Colquitt County Sheriff’s Investigator Jason Thomas said the sheriff’s office has received several reports recently of those checks being stolen from mailboxes before they are picked up.
Once the personal check is stolen, Thomas said the thief or thieves make counterfeit checks using the stolen check’s routing number and account number. Once made, the counterfeit checks can be used anywhere and will take money out of the victim’s account without them knowing it.
Thomas encourages people to mail items that include a personal check from a U.S. Post Office.

Arrests
Moultrie Police
• Terrell E. Hawkins, 30, of 1420 Hutchinson Drive, was charged Wednesday with two counts of duty to obey an officer and probation violation.
• Franklin Allen Smithwick, 46, of 904 Fourth Ave. S.E., was charged Wednesday with four counts of indecent exposure.
• Cynthia Denise Gregory, 30, of 407 First Ave. S.E., Apt. 4, was charged Wednesday with disorderly conduct.
• John Paul Williams, 27, of 2225 Sylvester Drive, was charged Wednesday with theft by receiving stolen property.

Colquitt County S.O.
• Steven Allen Sheffield, 30, of 274 Seminole Drive, was charged Wednesday with driving with a suspended license (second offense) and no proof of insurance.
• Eric Dantae Sims, 18, of 189 Serena Drive in Norman Park, was charged Wednesday with battery (family violence).

Other Incidents
Moultrie Police
• Cynthia Harrison, of Sixth Avenue Southeast, reported someone spray painted the word “You” on the side of her house Wednesday. Harrison gave officers the name of a suspect.
• Hurman Howard, of First Avenue Southeast, reported a thief stole a window air conditioning unit Wednesday. The value of the stolen air conditioner was $125.
• Bobbie Joe Daughtrey reported a thief stole the air conditioning unit at a house on Hillcrest Avenue Wednesday. The value of the stolen air conditioner was $4,000.
• An officer on patrol found someone stole the copper wiring from the air conditioner at the former Moultrie Shriners building on West Boulevard Wednesday. Damage and the value of the stolen copper was $4,000.
• An employee of Buddy’s Home Furnishings on First Street Northwest reported Wednesday a known female customer rented a Dell laptop computer then pawned it after making only one payment. The value of the stolen computer was $1,063.22.
• James Houston reported a thief kicked in the rear door of a house under renovation on Ninth Street Southwest and stole all the copper wiring and an air conditioning unit Wednesday. The value of the stolen items was estimated at $2,400.
• Torina Mobley, of Woodmen Road, reported Wednesday someone had been using her daughter’s debit card to make payments at Alltel. The amount of the fraudulent transactions was $12,794.99.
• Tommy Hewitt reported a thief stole his Huffy bicycle after he left it at the front door of a house on Fifth Street Southeast Wednesday. The value of the stolen bicycle was $150.
• Charlene McCormick, of Second Street Southwest, reported someone broke out her daughter’s bedroom window Wednesday. Damage was $100.

Colquitt County S.O.
• James Pearson reported Wednesday a thief broke out the driver’s side window of his Ford F-150 truck while it was parked at a house on Funston-Sigsbee Road and stole a Pioneer CD player between Aug. 30 and Aug. 31.