HARTFORD, Ala. (WDNews) — Two Hartford residents are facing grand theft charges after authorities say they stole items from a yard sale in Holmes County, Florida, before returning to Alabama.
According to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Esto Storage on Aug. 22 following a report of a theft.
The victim told deputies she was holding a yard sale and briefly left to run an errand. When she returned, she reportedly saw a man and woman loading her belongings into a black Ford F-150.
Authorities said the victim attempted to confront and stop the pair, but they drove away, traveling north on Highway 79.
The victim was able to get the truck’s license plate number and provided it to a responding deputy.
According to HCSO, the deputy used the tag information to identify a registered address and contacted the Hartford Police Department in Alabama.
Hartford Police officers went to the address and identified the two suspects as Stacey McClendon and Derek Stanley.
According to authorities, McClendon and Stanley admitted during questioning to taking the property. The stolen items were recovered and are expected to be returned to the victim.
The sheriff’s office said arrest warrants are being issued for McClendon and Stanley on grand theft charges.
Holmes County Sheriff John Tate commended the victim for providing information, the responding deputy for quickly following up on the vehicle information and Hartford police for helping identify the suspects and recover the stolen property.
The investigation involved cooperation between law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Alabama-Florida state line.