Three arrested in auto break-ins in south Houston County

Three people have been arrested and $5,000 worth of property, including three weapons, has been recovered after an investigation into auto break-ins on the outskirts of Perry.

Riley Hamm, 18, John Stephen Jones, 20, and Austin Clements, 19, all of Perry, each were charged with three felony counts of second-degree burglary in connection with the auto break-ins in the Kathleen and Perry area, police Capt. Heath Dykes said.

Hamm also was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, and Clements also was charged with illegal possession of Xanax and misdemeanor marijuana possession.

The joint investigation involved Perry police and the Houston County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities think Hamm, Clements and Austin are responsible for a total of 13 auto break-ins, and additional charges are expected, Dykes said.

The arrests followed the execution of search warrants at 105 North Hiley Court, Warner Robins; 2350 Houston Lake Road, Apartment 1017, Kathleen; and 203 Mitculler Court in Kathleen.

Two handguns and an assault rifle were among the property recovered, Dykes said. Other property recovered ranged from laptops and iPads to stereo speakers, fishing poles and a safe.

"It was a good joint effort between the two agencies to come together and solve these cases," Dykes said.

Anyone with any related information is asked to call Perry police detective Jason Jones at 478-988-2833 or Houston County sheriff's investigator Greg Pennycuff at 478-218-4790.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559 or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 5:53 PM.