Johns Creek burglary suspect still at large; 3 in custody
Police continue to look for a fourth Johns Creek burglary suspect Thursday after an exhaustive search led to the arrest of three would-be bandits in a subdivision struck three times in the past two weeks.
Thursday's attempted break-in in the Wellington Enclave neighborhood led to a two-hour manhunt that included police and police dogs from neighboring towns, and the "soft" lockdown of two schools.
Whether these individuals were the same bandits who busted into a home last week where a teenage girl had to text her mother for help from a closet remains to be seen, however.
In Thursday's incident, police spokeswoman Rosemary Taylor said the suspects tried to enter the home on Ellsborough Court minutes after they saw the homeowner leaving, around noon.
But they didn't expect the man's son to be home from college, Taylor told the AJC.
"They fled when he heard them and called out," Taylor said.
The man called police, and soon officers were swarming the subdivision.
Taylor said Findley Oaks and Abbotts Hill elementary schools were placed on "soft lockdowns" -- that is, students who were outside playing were corralled into the school buildings -- and dismissals were delayed as a precaution.
By 2:30 p.m., three of the would-be thieves were in police custody, pending charges.
Those three individuals have not been identified by police, and as of 5 p.m., authorities were still searching the subdivision and surrounding areas for the fourth individual.
Return to ajc.com for more updates.
