4 charged in vehicle theft

Two young adults and two juveniles were charged with receiving stolen property and other charges, after an investigation by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.

A sheriff’s office press release says deputies were investigating an April 28 vehicle theft in Whitesville. The vehicle was recovered later on April 28 in parking lot, having sustained severe damage, reports say.

Investigators posted a security camera photo from the scene of the theft on social media, showing a vehicle driven by the suspects. The release says investigators received a tip from social media post that identified the vehicle as belonging to Tristan M. Collier, 18, of the 1700 block of Alexander Avenue.

The release says detectives went to Collier’s home and observed the vehicle, and obtained a search warrant. When detectives served the search warrant on the vehicle, Collier and a woman, Sarah N. Bellamy, 18, who also lives at the residence, came out of the home and were stopped for questioning, reports say.

Investigators found items reported stolen inside Collier’s vehicle, reports say. Collier and Bellamy were charged, as were two juveniles identified during the investigation.

Collier, Bellamy and the two juveniles, who were 16 and 17, were all charged with receiving stolen property over $10,000, receiving stolen property over $1,000, first-degree criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence and receiving stolen property. Collier and Bellamy were being held Wednesday in the Daviess County Detention Center.

In the release, Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman thanked the community members who provided tips to investigators, and urged people to lock their vehicle doors and to not leave valuable in their vehicles, particularly overnight.