Burglary arrest in Franklin County, Tennessee, a reminder about summer crimes

A Tullahoma, Tennessee, man was booked Friday on 31 counts stemming from a three-month-long investigation into a string of burglaries and thefts from vehicles, Franklin County officials said.

Bryan R. Dudley, 37, was charged with two counts of felony theft, nine counts of misdemeanor theft, 11 counts of burglary, eight counts of vandalism and possession of burglary tools, Franklin County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Chris Guess said in a statement.

Bryan R. Dudley

Investigators used information from the public, video surveillance and surveillance by investigators and deputies, Guess said. The Manchester Police Department in neighboring Coffee County assisted in the investigation by relaying important case information to detectives in Franklin County, he said.

Guess said items typically taken were small electronics like cellphones, tablets and other valuables that are easy to carry and conceal. The areas targeted most often were access points on Tims Ford Lake, Woods Reservoir and the Elk River.

Those kinds of burglaries are not rare in the summertime, Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said.

"Each year, it seems like we're faced with this, and this year it seems to have started a little bit earlier than normal," Fuller said Monday.

"Especially this time of year, there are vehicle burglaries around boat docks and piers and things," the sheriff said. "I think a lot of people are not mindful about leaving their valuables in the vehicle and not locking up their vehicles when they go out on the water."

Jonatas Molacinai, of Winchester, Tenn., in the dark shirt, and fishing buddy Robert Pearson, of Huntsville, Ala., head out onto Tims Ford Lake from Winchester Municipal Park on Aug. 13, 2015, to "do a little fishing." The two men work together at the Nissan plant in Franklin County.

Fuller said he's hopeful Dudley's arrest has a positive impact on summer car break-ins this year.

Guess suggested people leave their valuables at home or pack it onto their boats.

"They make dry boxes for electronics," Guess said. "I use one when I fish."

Dudley is being held at the Franklin County Jail on a $250,000 bond and has an initial court appearance set for 8 a.m. CDT on June 25 in Franklin County General Sessions Court, officials said.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.face book.com/benbenton1.