Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs reported that on March 23rd around 3:30pm, the BCSO received a call from a complainant stating that someone was on his property without permission. The complainant blocked the exit so the vehicle could not leave and was waiting for deputies to respond.
Sgt. Brian Lundy responded to the 14000 block of N Hwy 183 where he spoke with 20-year-old Nicholas Smith of Stephenville, Texas. While Sgt. Lundy was speaking to Smith, the complainant noticed some of his property in Smith’s vehicle. According to Grubbs, there were three saddles in the back seat of the car. Sgt. Lundy arrested Nicholas Smith at that time and a search of the vehicle was conducted. Additional stolen items were recovered from the vehicle and it was discovered that smith had broken into the tack compartment of a horse trailer on the property BCSO reports. Investigator Vance Hill was called to assist in the investigation.
Sheriff Grubbs stated that during the investigation, Nicholas Smith confessed to two additional burglaries he had committed. BCSO had been conducting these investigations regarding these burglaries over the last several weeks. On March 3rd it was reported to the Sheriff’s Office that a storage building had been broken into on CR 367 in the May area. At the same location on March 20th, a house was broken into and a 50-inch television was taken the report states.
Prior to the arrest of Nicholas Smith, Investigator Vance Hill had located several of these items in two local pawn shops, and he was attempting to locate Smith.
During the search of Smith’s vehicle, additional tools were located. BCSO is following up on these items in attempt to locate the owners. Nicholas Smith has been arrested and charged at this time with Felony Theft equal or greater than $1500 less than $20,000, Burglary of a Building, and Burglary of a Habitation. Smith is being held at the Brown County Jail on bonds totaling $40,000.
In all of these cases, the crimes occurred during the day time when no one was believed to be home. There were no vehicles at the houses. Nicholas Smith told investigators that he would look for houses that it appeared that no one was around. Sheriff Grubbs advises citizens to be acquainted with their neighbors and take the time to look after one another.
“In rural areas, it is often the efforts of good citizens that help law enforcement to identify suspects in area crimes,” stated Grubbs. “This is often accomplished by just being a good neighbor.”
