On Wednesday, February 10, 2016 portable propane gas tanks were stolen from the Kroger, located at 400 Pionono Avenue and the Mini Foods Convenience Store, located at 2353 Ingleside Avenue. A total of 52 tanks were taken between the two businesses. Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Moss reviewed the video footage from the Kroger and saw a white van pull up to where the tanks are kept. Two male suspects got out of the van and took the tanks from the business. Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Howell responded to the Kwik Trip Store and had the same vehicle description with two male suspects get out and take the propane tanks from that business.
At around 12:40AM Saturday morning, Deputy Howell noticed a white Dodge Journey in the parking lot of Young’s Grocery, located at 2760 Montpelier Avenue. The deputy remembered the lookout for the white van that was involved in the thefts of the Propane Tanks and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The deputy noticed circular impressions in the carpet on the floor of the cargo area of the van, similar to the size of the bottoms of the tanks. Deputy Howell contacted Deputy Moss who had viewed the video footage from the Kroger thefts on Wednesday and he came to Deputy Howell’s location. Deputy Moss recognized the driver by the same clothing as the suspect from the video of the theft at the Kroger.
Both suspects were taken to the Bibb County Sheriff’s District 3 Office for questioning. They were identified as 41 year old Marlowe Jackson Jr., from Macon and 61 year old Willie Irvin, from Macon. After both men were interviewed, Jackson was charged with criminal trespass, theft by taking and violation of probation. Jackson has a bond amount of $4,985.00. Irvin was charged with theft by taking and criminal trespass. He has a bond amount of $4,700.00/ Both men remain at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.