Man Arrested on Theft, Criminal Trespass Charges

A Stephens County man faces charges after authorities say he was caught in the act of an attempted break-in.

45-year-old John David Thomas of Oak Way Drive in Eastanollee is currently charged with two counts of Criminal Trespass and one count of Theft By Taking.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said it started when deputies responded to a call regarding a suspicious person recently in the area of Georgia Highway 17 and Old Mill Road in Eastanollee.

“The individual was already gone by the time deputies arrived,” said Shirley. “They did, however, find some fresh shoeprints in the dirt that led them to an abandoned home. After entering the abandoned home, deputies encountered a man who is unclothed hiding in a closet. Deputies ordered him to exit the closet. He did comply.”

Shirley said deputies identified the man as Thomas and discovered he was wanted on an active probation warrant out of Hall County.

However, the sheriff said Thomas’ troubles were not over.

He said a businessman contacted his office the next day to report that his surveillance cameras had been damaged the night before.

“As they observed the cameras, the video captured the same individual that they had arrested and as a result of him using an aluminum ladder that belonged to the businessman to prop up, climb, and move those cameras up, he was arrested.”

Shirley said that Thomas was spotted on other cameras that he did not tamper with because he did not see them.

“Had it not been for that, we may never have known about this,” said Shirley. “We assume that the individual was attempting to break into the business.”

The sheriff went on to say that the video shows Thomas leaving the property and taking the ladder with him.

According to the sheriff, that ladder was recovered and returned to the business.

Thomas is in the Stephens County Jail at last report.