Two Tallahassee men were arrested last week in connection with the recent thefts of several vehicles in two states, including one that was taken from an Atmore dealership.
According to booking information posted on the Leon County (Fla.) Jail’s website, Jaghee Anderson, 19, and his brother, 20-year-old Derrick Anderson, were arrested January 30. Each remained behind bars on Tuesday, under total bonds of $33,500 on four counts of grand theft auto, five counts of burglary and one count each of felony criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said Tuesday that local police had placed a hold on the Andersons. He added charges would be lodged locally for the truck theft, as well as the burglary of another auto dealership and attempted break-ins at three other Atmore businesses.
“We’ve already placed a hold on them with Tallahassee,” the chief said. “We will charge them with two burglaries and three attempted burglaries. Tallahassee police are in the process of interviewing them and sending us all the paperwork. Once we get it, we will file our criminal charges.”
The crime spree started late Friday, January 27, or early Saturday, January 28, when the men allegedly stole a Porsche Cayenne Hybrid from a Leon County dealership. The stolen SUV was later found abandoned along Greenland Road, just outside of Atmore. A small pry bar was found nearby.
According to published reports, Tallahassee police said the Anderson brothers abandoned the luxury vehicle and walked to Atmore, where they broke a window to the business office of Johnson Ford. The intruders reportedly ransacked the local dealership’s administrative offices and stole a small amount of cash, an Apple tablet and the keys to a Ford F-150.
Tallahassee police say the brothers drove the stolen truck to Sandy Sansing BMW in Pensacola, where they left it and fled in a stolen BMW 500 Series sedan. The men then made their way back to Tallahassee and were caught two days later while trying to steal a car from an Acura dealership.
During the same period as the Johnson Ford break-in, Chuck Stevens Chevrolet on Nashville Avenue was also burglarized by someone who unsuccessfully tried to open the company safe and left empty handed.
Attempts were also made to break into Dollar Tree, Baber’s and Advance America Cash Advance, all on Lindbergh Avenue, but burglar alarms at all three businesses apparently caused the would-be intruders to abandon their plans.
Authorities have not revealed whether the suspects have ties to Atmore or why they might have chosen the city as a target in their crime spree.