Three Accused Of Leading Ring Of Car Burglars

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Three Kingsport men were arrested Wednesday after police accused them of leading a burglary ring that stretched some 100 miles through a half a dozen jurisdictions, and stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of electronics from unlocked cars.
Each of the three has been charged with several felonies related to the car break-ins in both Sullivan County, Tenn., and Wise County, Va., but police said Friday that by the time the investigation is over, the trio will face hundreds of charges.
Authorities said the thefts happened over several months in Wise County, the town of Wise, Sullivan County, both Bristols, Kingsport and Johnson City.
The police department in the town of Wise started putting the pieces together after a handful of unlocked cars were broken into over one night in late September.
Wise Police Chief Tony Bates said “good police work” led him and investigator Tim Yates to Sullivan County. Bates declined to go into specifics of the investigation because the case is ongoing and they anticipate several more arrests.
Bates said Friday that law enforcement is scrambling to recover the stolen items, particularly five missing guns. The loot, which Bates said totaled about $15,000 in Wise County alone, also included GPS systems, digital cameras, iPods, laptops and cash.
“It is beyond my comprehension, with the times the way they are, what people will leave in an unlocked vehicle,” Bates said.
He said most of the items were sold, hand-to-hand, and several of the buyers have turned the items over to police.
The three young men are in custody at the Sullivan County Jail. Bates said they’ll have to square up on charges there, then be extradited to Virginia to face additional, but similar, charges.
Jordan Blake Oaks, 19, of Orebank Road in Kingsport, is charged with aggravated burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle and theft over $1,000. He is being held on a $32,000 bond.
James H. Duncan, 21, of Carrolwood Heights Road in Kingsport, is charged with aggravated burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle and theft over $1,000. He is being held on a $22,500 bond.
Bradon Charles Harmon, 23, of East Sevier Street in Kingsport, is charged with aggravated burglary. His bond amount was not immediately available.
Additionally, each of the men is charged in Wise County, Va., with grand larceny, entering a vehicle with the intent to commit grand larceny and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Bates said that “by the time they’re done” they will have three charges per car broken into, which is at least nine and Bates suspects that many have remained unreported.

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