Deputies bust theft ring believed involved in 60 car break-ins

Cherokee County deputies have arrested three teenagers and a 20-year-old man believed to have been responsible for breaking into as many as 60 vehicles.

Additional arrests are expected in the rash of auto break-ins in the eastern and southeastern parts of the county, Cherokee sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker said.

Baker said that while 20 incidents of theft had been reported to authorities, "due to the property that has been recovered and after interviewing suspects, detectives believe that as many as 60 separate thefts can be attributed to this investigation."

John Sharp, 20, of Woodstock, was arrested Jan. 22 and remains jailed on $92,380 bond, Baker said.

Tyler Nash, 17, of Woodstock, was arrested on Jan. 25 and is being held on $15,700 bond.

Baker said Chad York, 18, of Woodstock, was arrested Friday and released the following day on $17,100 bond. A fourth suspect, a juvenile, was arrested and released to the youth's parents.

"It appears all the suspects worked in conjunction with one another," Baker said. "Every car that had property taken from it was unlocked."

He said the property taken included mp3 players, GPS devices, laptops, cash, pocketbooks and one firearm.

"Detectives suspect many of the stolen items were traded for drugs," Baker said.