Two Men Arrested After Five Nights of Reported Burglaries and Thefts in NW Atlanta

According to reports in Fulton County, two men have been arrested in connection to five nights of burglaries and car break-ins. Police believe that a third individual is involved, and they are still searching for him. 

Four cars were reported as stolen as well as a long list of items reported as stolen from garages and vehicles. One of the cars was tracked back to East Point, which is where police apprehended two out of the three men.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline just one of the offenses that the two men have been accused of committing in today's post.

Entering Auto in Georgia

Entering auto in Georgia is defined by law in the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §16-8-18 as:

If any person shall enter any automobile or other motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or a felony, he shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for no less than one nor more than five years, or in the discretion of the trial judge, as for a misdemeanor. 

To keep it simple - entering auto is very similar to the other offenses charged to the individuals in the story above. Entering auto is the vehicular version of burglary in Georgia. 

Georgia takes property crimes such as breaking in or robbing very seriously. The concept behind the harsher punishments for crimes of these natures is to discourage individuals from committing such acts as they are a threat to the safety of the public. 

Felony punishments in Georgia should be taken very seriously. Entering auto is considered a felony, and if convicted of entering auto an individual is facing up to five years in prison.

Practice Note

As with any other crime in Georgia - an arrest does not mean guilt. Don't forget that every story has another side that is usually not being told as loudly. Here at Lawson and Berry, we understand the fundamental nature of our country's criminal justice system: innocent until proven guilty. We are here to help you in your time of need. 

If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a crime, contact a Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney today.