SILVERHILL AL. Jan 2 2008 — The parents of a local teen who recently confessed to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property from South Alabama and North Florida residents were taken into police custody for receiving stolen property in the first degree.
Bret and Rita Helton of Silverhill were apprehended by authorities at their home on South Boulevard last Wednesday. They were released shortly thereafter awaiting their preliminary hearings.Investigators claim the couple concealed around $15,000 worth of property stolen by their son. The cache of valuables was found in a storage building near the Helton’s home and some were located in their house.Among items recovered were stereo equipment, power tools, lawn equipment, a 300 gallon fuel tank, an ATV, as well as hunting and fishing equipment.“We don’t feel like the adults knew or were involved in the initial break-ins,” Sheriff’s Department Capt. Steve Arthur said, “but they took some overt actions in order to conceal the property.”Their son, and two teenage accomplices have been charged in a rash of burglaries in recent months. Police say they were tipped off when an educator told them one of the teens was selling large quantities of designer sunglasses for cheap prices on school grounds.Among items seized when the three were arrested was a check for $24,000. The check was found to be a payment for a Caterpillar bucket truck stolen from Fairhope that they allegedly sold on eBay to a buyer in Wyoming. The buyer was contacted by investigators on his way back to Wyoming with the truck, valued at $45,000, and immediately turned around once informed it was stolen.This is an ongoing investigation, as investigators try to piece together how large this “enterprise” actually is. According to police, other items stolen in burglaries around the region include car audio equipment, clothing, 30 to 40 guns, landscape equipment, tractors, boats, trailers, all-terrain vehicles and a 2 1/2-ton logging truck.
A similar incident in the small, Central Baldwin municipality was reported in November when police seized property estimated at around $10,000.Items seized included electronic equipment, compact discs and disc players, MP3 players, phones, cigarettes, money, along with other items.Christopher Jerkins, 30, of Silverhill, was arrested and charged with six counts of theft of property, third degree, a Class A misdemeanor.Neither the Sheriff’s Department nor the Silverhill Police Department has acknowledged a link between the incidents.
Bret and Rita Helton of Silverhill were apprehended by authorities at their home on South Boulevard last Wednesday. They were released shortly thereafter awaiting their preliminary hearings.Investigators claim the couple concealed around $15,000 worth of property stolen by their son. The cache of valuables was found in a storage building near the Helton’s home and some were located in their house.Among items recovered were stereo equipment, power tools, lawn equipment, a 300 gallon fuel tank, an ATV, as well as hunting and fishing equipment.“We don’t feel like the adults knew or were involved in the initial break-ins,” Sheriff’s Department Capt. Steve Arthur said, “but they took some overt actions in order to conceal the property.”Their son, and two teenage accomplices have been charged in a rash of burglaries in recent months. Police say they were tipped off when an educator told them one of the teens was selling large quantities of designer sunglasses for cheap prices on school grounds.Among items seized when the three were arrested was a check for $24,000. The check was found to be a payment for a Caterpillar bucket truck stolen from Fairhope that they allegedly sold on eBay to a buyer in Wyoming. The buyer was contacted by investigators on his way back to Wyoming with the truck, valued at $45,000, and immediately turned around once informed it was stolen.This is an ongoing investigation, as investigators try to piece together how large this “enterprise” actually is. According to police, other items stolen in burglaries around the region include car audio equipment, clothing, 30 to 40 guns, landscape equipment, tractors, boats, trailers, all-terrain vehicles and a 2 1/2-ton logging truck.
A similar incident in the small, Central Baldwin municipality was reported in November when police seized property estimated at around $10,000.Items seized included electronic equipment, compact discs and disc players, MP3 players, phones, cigarettes, money, along with other items.Christopher Jerkins, 30, of Silverhill, was arrested and charged with six counts of theft of property, third degree, a Class A misdemeanor.Neither the Sheriff’s Department nor the Silverhill Police Department has acknowledged a link between the incidents.
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