By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa
Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley is warning area residents of a new possible ploy being used by criminals around people’s homes.
Shirley said he received the first report of it recently in this area from a resident.
He said it tends to happen during the late night or early morning hours.
According to the sheriff, the woman who reported this to him says it happened around 3 a.m.
“She alerted her husband to some noise that she had heard,” said Shirley. “Upon their inspection outside, they noticed that the water faucet had been turned on. They did not call authorities at the time, as they did not think anything about it. Since that time, we have had several other reports where this has occurred.
Shirley went on to say that people need to be very careful, even around their own homes, during the overnight hours.
“My message to anybody in your listening area would be to either contact your Sheriff’s Office or Police Department and allow them to come out and check the area first,” said Shirley. “That is something new that is going on throughout the land. Never get up out of the bed during the night and inspect something on your own.”
Shirley said that in other areas of the country, criminals have attacked people after they come out to check the situation.
However, he said that has not taken place at this point in Stephens County.