Online listing helps officers in burglary case

A listing for ammunition on Craigslist led to the arrest of three people accused of stealing items from homes in four different counties, authorities said.

Junior Overton, 22, and Devon Chase Defoor, 19, both of 281 8th St., Haleyville were arrested on two counts of third-degree burglary, one count of first-degree theft of property and one count of second-degree theft of property, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.

Oliver said a 17-year-old female was also arrested on the same charges but her name could not be released due to her juvenile status.

According to Oliver, the arrests were the result community members and law enforcement working together.

“We had a burglary on Highway 75 earlier this month where several different items were stolen,” Oliver said.

“While the case was under investigation, a man who is friends with the victim in the case was looking on the Craigslist website and noticed a listing for ammo that matched the description of ammo that had been stolen at the Highway 75 residence.”

Oliver said the man called the victim who then contacted law enforcement.

“Investigators set up a meeting on Monday with the person selling the ammunition,” he said.

“Investigators were able to track the stolen ammunition back to Junior Overton, and they brought him in for questioning Monday evening.”

Oliver said Overton confessed to the break-in on Franklin 75 and agreed to lead authorities to the stolen property.

“When investigators got to where the stolen items were, they discovered more items that ended up being linked to break-ins in Colbert, Lawrence, and Tishomingo, Miss.,” he said.

Investigators said the items stolen included guns, jewelry, chainsaws, TVs, power tools, money and other items.

Defoor and the juvenile were also implicated in the break-ins with the juvenile allegedly driving the vehicle while Overton and Defoor broke into the homes, Oliver said.

“This case just goes to show that when the community is looking out for one another, it helps law enforcement get these people off the street and get their property returned to them,” Oliver said.

All three suspects are being held at the Franklin County Jail.