THOMASVILLE — Four people are in custody for a series of crimes reportedly committed in mid-May in Thomas County and the surrounding area.

A number of the crimes were committed between May 12 and May 15.

“They were in the Ochlocknee area. We had burglaries in the Pavo area. We had some thefts around Thomasville,” said Lt. Tim Watkins, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator.

In the latter incidents, items were taken from pickup truck beds.

In an entering auto, a bank card was stolen and used at three stores. A man and woman were seen on surveillance video using the card at one of the stores.

The individuals — Matthew Aldridge, 21, and Caitlin Shelley Rogers, 22, both of the Meigs area — were identified. Warrants were issued. 

“Before the crime was reported, they were using the bank card,” Watkins said.

Interviews led investigators to Edward Cole Upton, 19, 15211 U.S. 19 South, and Brandon Wayne Hembree, 19, 261 Hidden Acres.

The sheriff’s office charged Aldridge, Rogers, Upton and Hembree with burglary. Aldridge, Upton and Hembree also were charged with entering auto. Rogers is charged with three counts of credit card fraud and burglary.

Hembree and Aldridge was arrested during the weekend by Albany police at an Albany mall and charged with methamphetamine possession.

Warrants were issued Tuesday on Aldridge by Thomasville police.

“He went into at least five vehicles at Evoqua Technology on Metcalfe Avenue,” said Capt. Maurice Holmes, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations commander.

Two people meandered through the business parking lot between 5:30 and 6 one morning going through contents of unlocked vehicles, Holmes said. Expensive coolers, tools and personal identification documents were taken.

Holmes said Aldridge is visible on surveillance video trying to cash the cashier’s check at a drive-through window at a Thomasville bank.

Aldridge and Hembree are in jail in Albany. Upton and Rogers are in the Thomas County Jail.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820