Sheriff believes bust could solve as many as 30 burglaries

The jewelry pictured above is a small portion of the items recovered after an arrest by the Houston County Sheriff's Office last week.

By: Lance Griffin | Dothan Eagle
Published: March 16, 2010

Houston County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested three people believed to have been involved in around 30 area burglaries in the past year.

Robert Keith Allan, 45, of Dothan, was arrested following a traffic stop Thursday, March 11, and initially charged with four counts of burglary (three third-degree counts and one first-degree count). Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes said Allan could face additional charges in Houston County, and is expected to face additional charges in several counties in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Also arrested were Kristy Michelle Dawson, 32, of Elba and Jeffery Lamon Turner, 28, of Dothan. Dawson was charged with second degree possession of marijuana and Turner was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Hughes said they could face additional charges as well.

Sheriff’s investigators recovered numerous stolen items from the vehicle as well as a residence, and believe they are storing many more items at other locations. Items recovered include jewelry, electronics, knives, guns, prescription drugs and other items. Hughes said the burglaries date back to January of 2009 and took place in Houston, Coffee, Covington and Geneva counties in Alabama, Seminole County in Georgia and Washington County in Florida.

Hughes said the ring’s method of operation was breaking into residences while homeowners were gone during the day, taking a pillow case from the bedroom and filling the pillow case with items. Hughes urged residents who have been the victim of a burglary to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 677-4888.

“This investigation is ongoing,” Hughes said. “We expect to recover other items and other people could be involved.”