James K. Wilson, Jr.

The Bradley County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing heating and cooling equipment from a Waterlevel Highway home last week, according to a news release.

James K. Wilson Jr. was taken into custody on June 13 after an investigation by the Sheriff Office's Criminal investigations Division.

The home Wilson targeted was vacant and had a sign for a local real estate agency in the front yard. Wilson took the sign and a four-ton air-conditioning unit, the release says.

Wilson was arrested just hours after the theft at a scrap metal business where he had taken the pieces of the unit.

Detectives were able to match pieces of the disassembled unit with a description of the unit. They made a positive identification after securing the unit's serial number, according to the release.

Wilson, 43, remains in custody and was charged with theft of property.

Detectives are investigating similar thefts in vacant homes around Bradley County, but no charges have been filed.

Anyone with information about incidents like these in Bradley County or the surrounding area, please call Detective Carl Maskew at 423-728