Police: Metal thieves run out of gas, arrested
Hauling a trailer full of stolen metal can kill your gas mileage, a Gainesville family learned Monday.
Two brothers, 18-year-old David Justin Tweedell and 22-year-old Anthony Ray Tweedell, were arrested along with their uncle, 45-year-old Robert Allen Chamblee, after their truck ran out of gas on Breezy Lane near Clermont, according to a press release from the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
The disabled Chevy pickup, parked in the roadway, was reported to police by a resident of the area. Upon arrival, deputies found the trailer loaded with 20-foot sections of pipe and other metal materials. The three men later arrived and claimed ownership of the vehicle, saying they left it after running out of gas.
All three men were booked into the Hall County Jail on felony charges of theft by taking. The stolen property was returned to its owner, police said.
About the Author
George Mathis has worked in the AJC newsroom since 1999 in a variety of roles including editing local news, blogger and columnist.
