The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s help in the recent theft of almost $10,000 worth of diesel fuel and other items from three locations in south Tyler and southern Smith County.

Crimestoppers is now offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes.

Call Detective Aaron Hinton at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at 903-590-2698 if you have information.

During the overnight hours of April 22-23, a male suspect was caught on security video at Trendsetter Recycling, located at 15580 CR 164, where approximately 250 gallons of diesel fuel was taken.

The same man is suspected of burglarizing Compton Roll Off, located at 15692 FM 2493, where approximately 30 gallons of diesel fuel was taken and a company truck was broken into and tools were stolen.

A third location was also burglarized and is being investigated by the Tyler Police Department.

SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

Thanks to quick collaboration between The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation and Patrol Divisions, a suspect is in custody related to the theft of truck parts, forklift accessories and other metal items worth several hundred dollars which were taken on April 27.

Craig Andrew Hawkins, DOB 1.5.83, was arrested on May 8 and charged with the theft at Transport Services, located at 2887 Highway 271.

Detective Ron Rathbun investigated the theft on April 29 and obtained surveillance video from the location. The video captured two unknown white males and a vehicle. Photos of the vehicle were distributed to the SCSO Patrol Division.

During the early morning hours of May 3, the vehicle was located at a mobile home park on Highway 64 West by Deputy Justin Redding. Redding contacted Detective Rathbun who, with another detective from the Sheriff’s Office, later made contact and spoke to the vehicle owner, Hawkins, a former employee of Transport Services.

Hawkins admitted that he was one of the individuals who took the items and sold them for scrap.

He was arrested and booked in to the Smith County Jail. An arrest warrant is pending for the other suspect.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office welcomes information on any crime or criminal activity. If you have information you want to share, call the Sheriff’s Office at 903-566-6600.