Rash of Vehicle Thefts Reported in County

RISON - The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department is continuing an investigation into a rash of car thefts last week that resulted in two vehicles being recovered south of Rison and another still missing. Chief Deputy Gary Young reported that the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department received a report from Miller’s Auto on Hwy. 63 at Woodlawn last Tuesday, Jan. 14, about a 2016 Volkswagen Passat being stolen from the storage lot.At approximately 11 a.m. last Wednesday, Jan. 15, Young said the stolen vehicle was found on the side of Hwy. 35 South at Phillips Road near the Toledo community.  Young said the vehicle was not damaged.Then at 7:37 p.m. last Wednesday, Jan. 15, Young said Laura Herrington reported that her 2016 Toyota Highlander was stolen from the parking lot of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church on Hwy. 35 South while she was attending church services.  Herrington reported that her debit card was in the vehicle when it was stolen. Young said Herrington’s vehicle was found  Thursday afternoon, Jan. 16, stuck in a wooded area off Hwy 35 south of Rison.On Thursday, Jan. 16, Young said Stan Sadler of Rison reported that his 2013 Ford F-150 truck had been stolen from the driveway of his residence located on Hwy. 35 South inside the Rison city limits. Sadler said he believes the truck was stolen sometime late Wednesday night, Jan. 15.During the investigation Young said it was learned that the suspect(s) attempted to use Herrington’s debit card to purchase gas at a store in Fordyce that same night.  Video from the store revealed that the suspect(s) were attempting to buy gas for the Ford F-150 that had been reported stolen by Sadler. At this time the Ford F-150 has not been recovered.  Information was developed indicating the truck was in El Dorado during early morning hours of last Thursday, Jan. 16. Young said this information was not from an attempt to use the debit car...