Suspect arrested in multiple burglaries
THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - A Thomasville man is in jail accused of breaking into the same business twice in a month and stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment.
Police found computers, radios, and cell phones stolen from Lanter Communications inside 47-year old Ray Franklin's Fleming Street home.
Business owner Kenley Lanter, Jr. says he's had enough. "It's a shame that you can't open a business and just do business, but you have to put in so much security to be sure that somebody can't wipe you out in one visit."
Lanter owns Lanter Communications in Thomasville.
The electronics store experienced two break-ins in the last 30 days.
Resulting in close to $10,000 of lost property.
"We've had two laptop computers taken. We've had cell phones taken. We've had two way radios taken. Anything that they think they can sell on the street," said Lanter.
But Lanter says he does want to commend the Thomasville Police Department for the arrest of 47-year old Ray Franklin. "After the second time I was hit, I called the chief of police and spoke with him and he assured me that he would do everything possible to catch these people."
Investigators say they were able to recover some, but not all of the stolen property at Franklin's home.
"I was able to get a couple of laptop computers, a couple of radios, most of the radios were scattered to the wind. They sold those and there's no telling where they're at," said Lanter.
And as police continue to investigate dozens of recent residential and commercial burglaries, Lanter says he thinks most of them are related.
"I think this person that probably broke in on Moonspin and another business next to them, I think they were all done by the same person. I think this person has been terrorizing the city for quite a while."
Lanter says he added several security additions this week, to make sure this never happens again.
Franklin is charged with two counts of burglary and remains in the Thomas County Jail.
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