Deputies crack auto burglary ring

Over the past three months, deputies with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating a series of auto burglaries in the Freeport, Choctaw Beach and South Walton areas. Information gathered during the investigation led deputies to a group of three white male juveniles and one white female juvenile who were participating in what was described as “car hopping”, in which they would walk up to parked cars in a neighborhood and check for unlocked doors.

As a result of the investigation all were charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and grand theft. During questioning the suspects admitted to committing (as a group and individually) approximately 100 burglaries during a three month period in the Choctaw Beach, Indian Bay, Waterview Cove, East Bay Loop, Lagrange Bayou, Bay Grove Road, Bluewater Bay and the Mack Bayou area. Some of the property taken was being used by the suspects and other property was being stored. One of the individuals sold an item on Craigslist.

In addition to the auto burglaries, one of the white male juveniles was charged with one count of burglary of a structure after evidence revealed he had burglarizing a building located at the Hammock Bay sports complex.

To this date, deputies have been able to recover an estimated $5,000 in stolen property, which include cell phones, cameras, Ipod Nano’s, radar detectors, and GPS units. Additional property is in the process of being recovered, and more charges are pending against all suspects.

Anyone who may have information related to these crimes is asked to contact Investigator Phillip Currid at (850) 892-8186.