Thief caught after taking items from car

On Jan. 16, Officers responded to Pine Circle in reference to a burglary in progress.

Dispatch advised officers that a witness claims to have seen the subject take items out of a neighbor’s vehicle and then leave the scene in a dark red SUV with a luggage rack.

Officers searched the area and before long located a dark red SUV parked in a driveway near the crime scene.

Responding officers pulled into the driveway blocking the vehicle in and ordering the driver, Jeremy Hetchler, over to them.

Hetchler was asked if the residence he was at was his own and he replied “yes”. After being questioned about all the items in his car Hethler told police he was in the process of moving.

Hetchler provided an Arizona license that came back cancelled and after checking the status of his Georgia license it came back suspended multiple times.

Hetchler explained to police that he was just getting home and was about to go inside.

Hetchler was placed in handcuffs and searched. Police located several items in his pockets including a bent wire, several quarters, a cell phone, headlamp and a knife.

Hetchler was then placed in the patrol vehicle and told police that he was not going to answer any questions because it would get him into trouble.

Another officer picked up the witness who was able to identify Hetchler and his vehicle as the same ones that were at the victim’s house.

The witness claims he saw Hetchler with a flashlight outside the home on Pine Cirlce and observed his parked SUV with the lights out and the engine running.

He observed the suspect take several items from the neighbor’s trunk and place them in the back of his SUV. After a tow company was called to pick up Hetchler’s vehicle he explained to police that he was willing to cooperate and asked if his mother could come pick up his vehicle and police told him she could not.

While waiting for the wrecker service police were able to locate past case reports involving Hetchler which included one where he was arrested and had burglary tools similar to the ones police found on him that evening.

After being given a search warrant police searched the vehicle while it was impounded at the station. Police located several items, which matched the description of items stolen from the victim including a coin machine, towels and a diabetic kit located in a black leather case.

Hetchler was transported to the Barrow County Detention Center and charged with burglary, entering an auto with intent to commit a crime, possession of tools for commission of crime, possession of a knife during commission of a crime and driving with a suspended license.