To: All News Agencies

From: Sheriff Jon Hayden

Date: December 20, 2007

Re: Stolen Vehicle Investigations in West Paducah - Heath- Grahamville area

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A recent rash of stolen vehicles in the western McCracken County area has led to the arrest of a juvenile.

12-15-2007

Report taken by sheriff's deputies of stolen bicycle (valued at $200.00) from home located on Bradford Road in West Paducah.

12-16-2007

Report taken by sheriff's deputies reporting a 1988 Jeep Wrangler (valued at $3900.00 dollars) being stolen from parking lot in Heath.

12-21-2007

Report taken by sheriff's deputies reporting a 1994 Toyota Camry (valued at $2500.00) being stolen from a residence on Metropolis Lake Road near Heath and Grahamville.

12-26-2007

Report taken by sheriff's deputies reporting a 1998 Buick Park Avenue (valued at $10,000.00) being stolen from a residence on Bradford Road in West Paducah.

It had been reported by residents on Bradford and Hall Roads in the Heath / Grahamville area that teenage boys had been seen walking around in the neighborhoods late at night and in some instances looking in people windows.

Patrols in the area were increased by the sheriff's department in response to the recent thefts.

All three of the stolen vehicles have been recovered. The bicycle that was stolen from the Bradford Road home was located at the scene of the stolen Buick also on Bradford Road. The Jeep Wrangler and the Toyota Camry were both located abandoned

in a driveway on N. Friendship Road on December 26. The Buick Park Avenue that was stolen from a home on Bradford Road on 12-26-07 was found back in the owners driveway on 12-27-07, apparently brought back by the suspect that stole it.

On Thursday night (12-27-07) at about 9:22PM, sheriff's deputies responded to the area of Metropolis Lake Road and Hall Road concerning a complaint of a white male wearing a black hooded jacket acting suspicious walking around in the area. Dep. Tom Crabtree located the suspicious person and found him to be in possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. The suspicious person was identified as a 14 year old juvenile. The juvenile was cited on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and released to his parents.

On Friday (12-28-07) McCracken Sheriff's detectives located the 14 year old and conducted an interview with him due to his location in the area of several recent vehicle thefts. The results of the investigation and interview led detectives to charging him with three car thefts and one bicycle theft. The juvenile was later lodged at a juvenile detention center.

The juvenile was charged with three (3) counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking Over $300 (auto) and (1) count of Theft by Unlawful Taking Under $300 for a bicycle theft.

"The recent rash of thefts in this area of the county have "for good reason" upset area residents and made them feel very uneasy. We are confident that this subject is responsible for these thefts but are equally confident that he had help or accomplices. This investigation is not over."

"We will continue to step up patrols in these areas of the county and urge residents to continue to call the sheriff's department when seeing anyone suspicious in their neighborhoods."

End of Release

Sheriff Jon Hayden

McCracken Co. Sheriff's Department