The events leading up to Phillip Strickland's arrest Thursday read like an excerpt from a Coen Brothers script, with the onetime lawyer now facing theft charges.

Alpharetta Police say Strickland, 38, will be charged with a slew of felony theft charges since 25 laptops, 50 iPods, 50 GPS devices and more than 50 IDs, passports, credit cards and jewelry were discovered in his car. The Alpharetta resident was pulled over early Tuesday morning in a affluent north Fulton neighborhood where a number of cars had been broken into the previous night.

He was arrested for possessing illegal narcotics, said Alpharetta Police spokesman George Gordon, and though currently out on bond, Strickland's freedom may be short-lived.

"A search of the vehicle revealed numerous items alleged to have been stolen from other automobiles," Gordon said.

Most of the valuables were stolen from unlocked cars -- "thefts of opportunity," Gordon said. "We remind people time and again they need to lock their car doors."

Especially now, as property thefts traditionally rise whenever the economy slumps.

Inside Strickland's car, Gordon estimates police found more than $50,000 worth of merchandise from a large residential swath. Johns Creek Police are expected to file charges against him, and officials in Fulton, Forsyth and Cherokee counties are also investigating Strickland. "He obviously has some problems," Gordon said.

This time 10 years ago, Strickland was completing his studies at Macon's Mercer University. He was admitted to the bar in December 1998.

Less than eight years later, he was disbarred after not responding to accusations that he accepted payments from clients without performing the expected work.

Strickland is currently living in an Alpharetta apartment with his mother. Attempts to reach him Thursday were unsuccessful.