Two Arrested in Lavonia Smash And Grab, Third Suspect Sought

Sheldon Collins is one of three men allegedly involved in a smash and grab Tuesday morning at the Hill's Exxon in Lavonia

Sheldon Collins is one of three men allegedly involved in a smash and grab Tuesday morning at the Hill’s Exxon in Lavonia

Two suspects are in custody in South Carolina allegedly involved in a smash and grab in Lavonia.

According to Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle it happened about 1a Tuesday morning at the Hill’s Exxon on SR17.

“Lavonia Police received a call of an alarm sounding at the Hill’s Exxon,” Carlisle said. “Upon arrival, officers discovered the door to the convenience store had been smashed and the store safe had been moved in an apparent effort to move the safe out of the store.”

Carlisle said when the suspects couldn’t get the safe out, they instead left with a donation jar that was on the counter.  A night security guard at the Hampton Inn spotted the men.

“He observed a white van occupied by three black males approach the side of Hill’s Exxon,” Carlisle said. “He saw two of the males walk around the store and became suspicious. So, he called 911 and gave a description of the vehicle. A lookout was placed for that vehicle not only in Georgia but also with South Carolina law enforcement agencies.”

According to Carlisle, the suspects fled in a white van, which was later spotted by Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies parked at a Waffle House on Clemson Blvd.

“After one of the suspects had been taken into custody, another suspect was able to get into the van and flee and a pursuit up I-85 ensued into Cherokee County, SC where a second suspect was taken into custody,” Carlisle said.

Arrested in Anderson County was Sheldon Monroe Collins, 34 of 5711 Cherrycrest, Charlotte, NC.

According to Anderson County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Sheila B. Cole, a temporary custody order has been placed on Collins for Receiving Stolen Goods valued at less than $2000 and Operating a Vehicle with a missing or incorrectly displayed license plate.

According to the incident report, the tag on the Ford van was reported stolen off of 1998 Saturn in Bowman, GA earlier.

The chase proceeded into Cherokee County where two suspects reportedly ditched the van and fled on foot. One of those suspects was captured, but a third suspect was still at large as of Tuesday evening, according to Carlisle.

The name of the second suspect who was captured in Cherokee County, SC has not yet been released.

In Lavonia, Collins and the other two suspects face a charge of felony smash and grab.

Carlisle said his investigators are working with South Carolina investigators and we hope to bring you more information as it becomes available.