A multiple-county investigation has led to the arrest two individuals in connection with burglaries that spanned from Pike to Coffee Counties.

Chris Bibb, 27, Montgomery, and Garry Sanderson, 43, Hopehull, were arrested July 10 after showing up to Jack Metals in Coffee County to sell aluminum from a horse trailer, pieces from a Kubota tractor and copper pieces from an air conditioning unit.

Thomas said the department had received a call June 25 from a logger on County Road 2201 off of Alabama Highway 29 concerning an individual who attempted to hook up to his fueling trailer that had been left in a field.

“As he pulled into the field, they fled,” Thomas said. “The white Dodge pickup had been seen in the area several times.”

Thomas said that same day the department took a report of a stolen horse trailer in Goshen, as well as an air conditioning unit and the Kubota tractor all valued at a combined $40,000.

Thomas said after taking the report the department began searching for a vehicle matching the description of the white Dodge pickup the logger had reported earlier in the investigation.

“Through the course of the investigation we located a gray horse trailer that had been cut up with a saw and had been sold at Jack Metals in Coffee County,” Thomas said. “We spoke to the owners of the trailer and they identified it to be theirs, thanks to identifying markers such as stickers that had been on the trailer.”

Video footage showed that the suspects were driving two separate vehicles at different times, including the Dodge pickup. Thomas said the other vehicle was a newer GMC pickup truck.

“We began working with other agencies at that time as well as Jack Metals, who was very helpful in the investigation,” Thomas said. “The owners of Jack Metals were advised by investigators to notify the department if Bibb and Sanderson showed back.”

Thomas said the truck the pair was driving when they returned to the business had been stolen in Shelby County.

A warrant had already been issued for Bibb’s arrest and he was taken into custody at that time. Bibb was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and was released on $10,000 bond. Sanderson also was charged with receiving stolen property, with a $10,000 bond, and he is being held on a parole violation as well.

“With these sorts of cases, it’s difficult to tell how many of these thefts they’ve committed over a period of time,” Thomas said. “Since their arrest, the burglaries have seemed to have dramatically slowed down. We want to thank Coffee County for their assistance with the investigation as well as Jack Metals. When the pair showed back up with motors, compressors and copper coils, Jack Metals was good enough to call so we could put an end to these burglaries.”