Two men arrested and charged after rash of weekend vehicle break-ins in Ozark

OZARK, Ala. (WDHN) — Two men are behind bars in Dale County after a rash of vehicle break-ins over the weekend in four different Ozark neighborhoods.

Early Sunday morning, police say Kiyon Vaughn, 24 of Phenix City, got into town and began breaking into cars and taking what he could from what is believed to be nearly 20 unlocked vehicles across 4 different Ozark neighborhoods near D. A. Smith Middle School in Ozark.

The neighborhoods that reported a break-in are Noah Circle, Apply Circle, Ross Drive, and Autrey Circle in Ozark.

“Several firearms, medications, identifying documents, and credit cards were taken from the aforementioned vehicles,” Commander of Investigations for the Ozark Police Department, Sen. Sgt. Justin Chadwick said.

Through surveillance video officers say they were able to identify Vaughn as a suspect.

Later on Sunday, officers say Vaughn and his friend Ravaughn Turner, 25 of Phenix City, went to the Walmart off U.S. Highway 231 and tried to use the stolen credit cards at the store.

Vaughn and Turner were later arrested by officers, who say the two suspects were not cooperative during the arrest.

Officers were able to retrieve the stolen items.

“We got approval to search the residence and subsequently located all of the property that was stolen,” Sen. Sgt. Chadwick said.

Turner is charged with four counts of illegal possession/use of a credit/debit card.

Vaughn is charged with breaking into twelve vehicles, but more charges could be added as victims come forward in the case.

He is also charged with three counts of theft 3rd, theft of property 3rd, theft of property 2nd, possession of a controlled substance, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Tuner and Vaughn are being held in the Dale County Jail with no bond set in their case.

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Sen. Sgt. Chadwick says they have recently seen an uptick over the last few months in the amount of vehicle break-ins, but nothing like the case on Sunday

“We haven’t seen this in a mass amount of vehicle break-ins in several months. We get a few here and there, but nothing of this magnitude,” Sen. Sgt. Chadwick said.

The case remains under investigation by the Ozark Police Department as they look for more victims in the case

Sr. Sgt. Chadwick asks that people lock the doors to their vehicles to possibly prevent this crime of opportunity.

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