Luke Anthony Ferro

TIFTON — The Tift County Sheriff’s Office has arrested nine individuals in connection to a rash of automobile break-ins and car thefts, according to a press release.

The release states that deputies and investigators were aware of an increase in reports related to entering autos and motor vehicle thefts over the past eight weeks.

Over the past two weeks, deputies and investigators identified and arrested nine individuals in relation to many of the reported crimes, in addition to two incidents of loitering and prowling.

The alleged offenders, five adults and four juveniles, range in age between 15 and 20 years old and have been charged with a total of 29 charges, according to the release.

The adult alleged offenders are:

• Tyrone Deelarence Washington, 17, was charged with one count of felony entering auto and one count of felony theft by taking.

• Mekiau Kadeem Griffin, 17, of Tifton, was charged with four counts of felony entering auto, two counts of felony theft by taking, two counts of felony theft by receiving and one count of felony criminal attempt to commit entering auto.

• Patriana Deyonce Daniels, 17, of Tifton, was charged with two counts of felony entering auto, one count of felony criminal attempt to commit entering auto, one count of felony theft by receiving, one count of felony theft by taking and one count of misdemeanor loitering.

• Shymek Jatwan Brown, 20, of Tifton, was charged with one count of felony entering auto, one count of felony theft by receiving, one count of misdemeanor loitering and one count of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

• Luke Anthony Ferro, 17, of Tifton, was charged with one count of party to the crime of felony entering auto and one count of felony theft by taking.

The release states that Sheriff Gene Scarbrough would like to thank the public for their support and help throughout the process and give thanks to all the men and women who worked so diligently to help bring the rash of thefts to an end. In the release, Scarbrough also reminds the public to safeguard their property and remain on the lookout, not only for their interest, but their neighbors as well.

Edit: Additional information about the four juveniles was obtained from the TCSO.

The four juvenile offenders were not identified because of their age.

• Juvenile 1, 16, was charged with two counts of entering auto and two counts of felony theft by receiving.

• Juvenile 2, 15, was charged with one count of felony theft by receiving and loitering or prowling.

• Juvenile 3, 16, was charged with one count of felony theft by taking.

• Juvenile 4, 16, was charged with one count of theft by receiving.