APD turns to social media to find burglar

Published 1:36 am Thursday, August 29, 2013

This photo of a burglary suspect was posted to the APD’s Facebook page and helped them in the case.

This photo of a burglary suspect was posted to the APD’s Facebook page and helped them in the case.

A Tuesday burglary prompted Andalusia police to turn to social media for help Wednesday.

And it worked. After posting a photo of dark-haired man inside what appeared to be a home earlier in the morning, the tips came in that led to the arrest of 34-year-old Jason Grover Fillingim, Sgt. Paul Dean said.

Dean said the incident occurred at a warehouse property on Jericho Road, where Fillingim broken in and stole not only liquor but also an assortment of miscellaneous items.

Dean said video surveillance gave police an image that was put out via the department’s Facebook page.

Fillingim will face a multitude of charges, Dean said.

More details will be released today, he said.

This week, police were also able to solve two other burglaries, Investigator Roger Cender said.

The first occurred Friday on Fourth Street, when two men entered the home and stole nearly $2,000 in electronics.

“It happened while the people were gone to an AHS football game when a juvenile and another unknown entered residence and stole couple of flat panel TV, video games, cell phones and several electronic items,” Cender said.

The second occurred at 10:30 a.m. Monday when Jeremy Jamal Thomas and two others broke into a Snead Street home and allegedly stole $980 in electronics.

Cender said officers were able to set up a sting to not only arrest Thomas, but also to recover the stolen items.

“Less than 12 hours after it happened and thanks to the hard work of officers Averill and Scruggs, we were able to set up a meeting under the guise there was someone who wanted to purchase the stolen items. Instead, we were there waiting for him.”