Three Brewton men are facing burglary and theft charges after officers with the Brewton Police Department investigated an incident on Fleming Lane where appliances, copper and even the kitchen sink were taken.
Two suspects are already in custody and a third is being sought.
Micheal Peterson, 23 and Theophilus John Atkins, 31, are in custody and face charges of third-degree burglary and first-degree theft of property charges.
Timothy Peterson, 28, is also a suspect in the case and is being sought by Brewton police.
Brewton Investigator Patrick Caylor said the owners of a home at 105 Fleming Lane reported a burglary this week.
“The theft and burglary of the items occurred some time in the last two weeks,” Caylor said. “When we discovered what was missing from the home we began checking at scrap and junk yards to see if the items had been sold.”
Caylor said the investigation turned up evidence that lead to the three men considered suspects in the case.
“They really went through the house and did some damage,” Caylor said. “The walls had been ripped open to expose copper wiring and copper pipes that were taken. So much was taken in the case — right down to the kitchen sink.”
Caylor said a shed at the location was also ransacked with a Hobart welder along with cutting torches, gas bottles and ladders missing as well.
“A bedroom suit was taken and a silverware set are also missing from the home,” Caylor said. “The victims were able to give a description of everything missing from the home.”
Sgt. Steven Ferguson, also an investigator with the Brewton Police Department, said crimes such as these tend to increase during summer months.
“We usually see a rise in this kind of activity about this time of year,” Ferguson said. “But, we want people to know that we are watching.”
Ferguson said there is a limited number of buyers for scrap metals and similar items in the area — a fact that makes tracking the sell of stolen goods easier for investigators.
“We will be keeping in touch with those buyers in this area in connection with stolen goods,” Ferguson said. “Anytime someone sells something to any of these buyers, they are identified and that stays on file. Anyone who walks into any of these places is on video. The buyers are working very well with our department in keeping information on those who sell items. We will catch people who try to sell stolen goods.”
Ferguson said he expected other burglary cases to be closed soon with other arrests expected.
“We want people who have had items stolen to contact us about that,” Ferguson said. “We want to stop this kind of activity in Brewton.”
No bond information was available on the suspects as of press time Friday.
Anyone with information on the location of Timothy Peterson is asked to contact the Brewton Police Department at 867-3212.