Eleven arrested for burglaries in Worth County after Wednesday armed robbery

SYLVESTER — The Worth County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that 11 individuals have been taken into custody in connection to a series of burglaries that have taken place in both Worth County and Tift County.

According to officials, at approximately 6:33 a.m. Wednesday Worth County 911 received a call about an armed robbery on the 700 block of Woodcrest Road. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and began an immediate search. At 7:50 a.m., a second call was received on the 200 block of Pebble Hill Circle in reference to another burglary.

“We had a home invasion/armed robbery about 6:30 Wednesday morning,” Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby said. “While we were processing the scene, we got another burglary call on Pebble Hill Circle. We went around there and got one suspect right off the bat. Then, we got two more later and, as the day went on, the investigation led to other people that we started getting.

“So far, this case is developing and it is working into a lot more than we anticipated.”

According to Hobby, initially a few items were recovered and three arrests were made by noon. Continued efforts led to Investigators obtaining a search warrant that was executed Wednesday afternoon, after which deputies took about six more people in for questioning.

Reports indicate that stolen property was also recovered.

By Thursday afternoon, 11 individuals were in the Worth County Jail, not including several juveniles who also were taken into custody, officials said.

“The ages of these folks are between 14 to 20 years of age and all of the individuals we have arrested were working together,” Hobby said. “So far we have 11 in custody, not including a few juveniles. This group was going from one residence to another residence. While we were working one burglary, they were burglarizing another home. They went into the homes with a 12 gauge shotgun, but no one was hurt during the incidents.”

Officials said the arrests have already solved three other burglary cases which extend into Tift County and 30 to 40 warrants were possible.

Hobby said no names have been released yet because the investigation is ongoing.

“We can’t release a lot of information just yet because there are still people we are looking for,” said Hobby. “So, we are not releasing the names, but it won’t be long before we do. We have charged some of the individuals. Some are charged with one burglary and some are charged with others. Again this is a developing case and we will update as information becomes available.”

Anyone with information concerning any of the break-ins is asked to call Worth County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 776-8211.