Suspect arrests for multiple Glade burglaries
For The Vista
On July 12, Robert Daniel Killeen, age 27, of Bluebird Circle, Crossville was arrested on charges relating to burglaries in the Fairfield Glade Community that date back to June, 2012, according to the Cumberland County Sherrif’s department.
Fairfield Public Safety took the original reports on June 21 and June 23 on two separate burglaries.
Residents had spotted a suspicious vehicle in the neighborhood and had passed on the information to officers.
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Investigators working closely with Fairfield Public Safety tracked down clues and information to solve the cases.
Sheriff’s Investigators charged Killeen with 2 counts of Aggravated Burglary, Theft over $10,000.00, and vandalism.
Killeen was taken into custody without incident and is currently in the Cumberland County Jail under a $45,000.00 bond awaiting a hearing which is scheduled for August 6, 2012.
Sheriff Butch Burgess and Chief Randy Hoover would like to thank all the residents that are involved in the Otter Creek I Neighborhood Watch for their care and concern about their community.
Stolen Signs are Costly to Taxpayers
Theft and vandalism to Cumberland County road signs cost taxpayers a lot of money every year and Cumberland County Highway Superintendent Scott Blaylock and Cumberland County Sheriff Butch Burgess are working together to attempt to cut down on some of those problems.
Some of the signs are stolen by those who are “scrapping”, as metal prices are high, and the thieves may be able to sell the stolen signs for a quick buck at a recycling facility. Superintendent Blaylock has contacted the scrap dealers to be on the look out for signs and metal posts, with those being caught being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Some people take road signs for more personal reasons. “They take about any of them, but if it’s a common name, or something that’s related to them, that happens quite a bit,” said Sheriff Burgess. In one week’s time, approximately 20 road signs were stolen costing taxpayers about $160 per sign to replace. “We put up a lot of signs every year, and then have to replace them later,” said Blaylock.
While some people may see it as a harmless act, it can actually have serious repercussions. Road signs that are taken down can be a major contributing factor to automobile accidents when people approach an intersection. It is a major problem for emergency responders to locate roads during an emergency. Keeping roads clearly marked helps protect the safety of residents in every neighborhood.
It is unlikely that the vandalism and theft of road signs will ever come to a halt, in fact, it occurs in every county across Tennessee. More signs are stolen every year than are vandalized, and it’s not often the stolen signs are recovered. Even when signs are vandalized – riddled with bullet holes, covered in paint, or dented with a baseball bat – they typically have to be taken down and replaced.
In the end, Cumberland County thieves are going to realize they have to pay for replacing the signs taken or vandalized, labor to place them back up, court cost and fines. As Sheriff Butch Burgess stated, “they will be stealing out of their left pocket and putting it in your right pocket and it would be better for them to just get a job.” The Sheriff’s Department will be prosecuting people to the full extent of the law for possession of traffic control signs, county street, road and highway signs. Any vandalism to highway bridges, overpasses, fences, walls, traffic control devices, signs, or other public highway structures shall also be prosecuted.
Remember, this is our community and by working together we can make Cumberland County a safer place to live and raise our families in. Anyone who sees someone taking or vandalizing road signs should contact the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department at (931) 484-6176 to report it as failure to report only endangers lives in your community. T.C.A. 54-1-134 also rewards anyone who reports such illegal activity that leads to a conviction with a $250.00 reward paid for by the proceeds of the fines collected under the highway vandalism act.