A set of muddy footprints left at a crime scene has led to the arrest of a Douglas man and the solving of numerous burglary and theft cases in Coffee and Appling Counties.
Authorities with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office recently responded to a burglary at Ready Truck Lines off Jackie’s Lane, where they were informed that someone had broken into the business through a window and taken an undisclosed amount of money and a bank bag.
Officials say that due to large amounts of recent rainfall in the area, detectives were able to follow a set of footprints that were located at the scene of the burglary for approximately one mile to a location on Quincy Batten Loop. After further investigation, they were able to make contact with 22-year-old Robert Upchurch at 216 Quincy Batten Loop. After speaking with Mr. Upchurch, the suspect admitted to committing the burglary at Ready Truck Lines and at least six others.
Upchurch admitted to burglaries at Helena Chemical and Brantley Steel Company, both located on the 206 Connector North East. He also admitted to the burglaries of Northside Baptist Church, Allgood Pest Solutions and a residential burglary on Morgan Lane.
Mr. Upchurch further confessed that during an attempt to break into the New Christian Worship Center, which is also located on the 206 Connector North East, the alarm went off and he fled the scene. Upchurch also confessed to committing at least two burglaries in Appling County.
As a result of the sheriff’s investigation, Upchurch was arrested and charged with four counts of second degree burglary and one count of first degree burglary in Coffee County.
More charges are pending on Upchurch in both Douglas and Appling County, and he is currently being held in the Coffee County Jail on a parole warrant.