Crime

Police hunting for shoplifting sisters

Thursday, January 29th, 2015, 12:33am

CUMMING, GA (WXIA) – The hunt is on for two sisters accused of shoplifting at Target stores more than 30 times.

Police say Brittany Willis and her sister Sheneka were seen on surveillance video shoplifting from a Target store on Peachtree Parkway in Forsyth County in November. They are also connected to crimes from metro Atlanta all the way to Chattanooga.

Police say the two women have stolen more than $24,000 worth of items from Target stores over the last eight months.

Both suspects have active warrants, but police admit arresting them won't stop them for good.

"They will face charges in every jurisdiction they can," said Forsyth County Police Detective Kris Hall. "Whether or not they get significant jail time is yet to be seen. When they get out, they'll be back to doing the same thing."

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, January 8th, 2015, 11:34am

Man charged with killing girlfriend's son

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. -- A Forsyth County man was arrested Wednesday night and charged with shooting his girlfriend's 25-year-old son to death.

Frank Huffman, 57, is being held without bond in the Forsyth County Detention Center.

Police responded to a home in the 1900 block of Quail Hollow Drive at around 10:15 p.m. They found James Tanner Conrad in the living room. He had been shot at least once.

Conrad was later pronounced dead at North Fulton Hospital. His mother, who is dating Huffman, was also transported with minor injuries.

Huffman was charged with murder and aggravated assault in Conrad's death. Investigators said the suspect and victim got into a physical fight shortly before the shooting.

The incident is under investigation.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, January 8th, 2015, 6:24am

Kilogram of heroin seized in Forsyth County

CUMMING, Ga. -- The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office busted a heroin distribution operation before it even had a chance to begin.

More than one kilogram of heroin was seized by detectives executing a recent search warrant at a suspect's Cumming home. The sheriff's office said the amount of heroin could be up to 32,000 doses. Its street value is between $150,000 and $250,000.

The suspect's name was not released. Investigators said that person recently moved to Forsyth County and was trying to establish a heroin distribution network in the area. Sheriff Duane Piper praised his deputies' work in dismantling the potential drug ring.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, January 5th, 2015, 6:49pm

Ex-Cherokee elections director charged with theft

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. -- The former Cherokee County elections director was arrested over the weekend for stealing from the county.

Janet Munda, 55, was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center Saturday night. She was later released on $9,000 bond.

Munda, of Cumming, was charged with felony theft by taking after a six-month investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker said Munda is accused of using her county credit card to pay for personal items.

Munda was fired from her elections director position in July 2014.

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Personal Safety Tips

Submitted by Sylvia Small on Thursday, November 27th, 6:00 pm

By Greg Norred, CEO, Norred & Associates

Over the course of your life, the chances of being the victim of a crime are at least one in three, higher if you live in a large city, and higher still if you’re a woman. The criminal’s objective is to maximize gain and minimize risk, and he’ll usually pick the easiest target with the most to offer. Given these odds, it pays to take precautions by following some basic safety rules:

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Submitted by Kevin Rowson, 11Alive Reporter

Thursday, September 18th, 2014, 11:12pm

Fraud ring caught stealing from mail boxes

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga -- How often do you have to send a check in the mail and put the check in your mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up? This story may make you think about doing it again.

Investigators with the Forsyth County Sheriff Office broke up a massive fraud ring that was stealing people's identity from their mail boxes. They say the ring was stealing checks and credit card applications and using the information to create fraudulent checks, IDs, credit cards and licenses.

It began as a burglary investigation in August. While investigating that burglary Detectives developed information about the fraud ring that was operating out of a home on Commonwealth Trail in south Forsyth County.

Detectives kept surveillance on the home until they had enough information to get a search warrant.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, September 18th, 2014, 10:21am

Forsyth County ID fraud ring busted, 5 arrested

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. -- An extensive identify theft investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office resulted in five arrests.

Sheriff's spokesman Doug Rainwater said officials busted a large ID theft ring after executing a search warrant at a home in the 1700 block of Commonwealth Trail in Cumming.

It began in August as a burglary investigation, but quickly grew when the search warrant uncovered piles of evidence. Rainwater said deputies recovered stolen mail, counterfeit money, fraudulent checks and driver's licenses, credit cards and personal information on hundreds of victims.

Two Commonwealth Trail residents were arrested. Daniel Moss, 48, and Sandra Stepp, 46, were both charged with first-degree forgery, financial transaction card theft and manufacturing fictitious identification.

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