Lone Oak Teen Charged in January Burglary

A Lone Oak Teen has been arrested after an investigation into the burglary of a home around the first of the year.

McCracken County Sheriff's Department was called January 10 to a home on Denver Avenue for a reported burglary, and the victim said someone came in an open window while they were out-of-town between December 18 and January 10. About $25,000 worth of jewelry was taken, along with two televisions and a laptop computer.

Over the last few days detectives were able to get new information about the crime, which led to a search warrant being issued for a nearby home on Denver Avenue. Early Thursday morning, the warrant was served, and detectives say the search revealed one of the stolen televisions, along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and clothing that may have been worn at the time of the burglary. Detectives also found a small indoor growing operation that they believe was for cultivating marijuana.

A juvenile was arrested after a brief struggle at the home, and was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center. Police say the juvenile eventually admitted to the burglary, and explained where most of the stolen items had been sold. Most of the jewelry was sold to a local gold buyer for about $2,000, and this part of the investigation is ongoing.

The McCracken County Attorney's office sent a letter of notice to all local gold buyers within the last week, saying that an ordinance passed in spring of 2013 but delayed by a legal action, will be enforced immediately. It requires that buyers have a phyiscal mailbox (not a P.O. Box), register purchased items online (with photos of the item and the seller's ID), and keep them in the county for 10 days after the purchase. Officials believe this will help in the recovery of some victim's stolen property.