MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A major theft ring involving the break-ins of several convenience stores, as well as cars and trucks, in more than a dozen counties stretching from south Georgia to metro-Atlanta, has been broken up with the arrests of two more suspects.

Intruders broke out the glass in at least one of the front doors of most of the stores to gain entry and then left in the same manner.

In cases involving items stolen from cars and trucks, meanwhile, authorities said the majority of the vehicles were unlocked.

Various items were stolen from inside the stores, including lottery tickets and cigarettes.

An estimated 25 weapons, meanwhile, were stolen from cars and trucks. 

Authorities from 15 counties collaborated to work the multi-county investigation. They also reached out for assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

Detectives and investigators from the multiple law enforcement agencies regularly shared information in an effort to solve the case. Those counties included Baldwin, Washington, Hancock, Glascock, Wilkinson, Johnson, Twiggs, Bleckley, Dooley, Pulaski, Crisp, Dodge, Laurens and Emanuel.

Authorities were searching for two of three men seen on surveillance cameras wanted in connection with the store burglaries. Within the past several days, authorities arrested both of those of the men, thus apparently bringing to an end the multi-county crime spree that began last November.

“We’re pleased that the last of these two suspects are now in custody,” Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Detective Thomas “T.J.” Hargrove told the newspaper Friday.

The two men arrested in recent days were identified by Hargrove as Cory Millman and Bernard Smith, both of whom lived in Macon-Bibb County.

“Cory Millman was arrested pursuant to warrants that I secured for burglary in the second degree, along with a number of other agencies,” Hargrove said.

Millman was taken into custody April 15 by members of the Bibb County Gang Unit.

The arrest took place about 3 p.m. at a residence on Myrtle Court in Bibb County, Hargrove said.

Millman, who had been incarcerated in Macon since the arrest, has been transferred to the Twiggs County Jail.

Smith, meanwhile, who also has been charged with burglary in the second degree, was being held Friday in the Bleckley County Jail.

A third man, believed by authorities to have been involved in the theft ring, Anthony Williams, also of Macon, was the first person arrested in the case.

Williams, too, has been charged with burglary in the second degree.

He is being held in the Macon-Bibb County Jail.

“Numerous agencies have holds on all three suspects,” Hargrove said.

Millman is a suspect in each of the store break-ins.

“There were different participants in different counties,” Hargrove said. “In our burglary, the other suspect was identified as Bernard Smith.”

He was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon by the Bibb County Gang Unit.

“We have confirmed that these men and some others are responsible for store break-ins and thefts of items from cars and trucks in at least 15 counties,” Hargrove said.

One of the many store break-ins happened in Baldwin County on Feb. 2. Intruders broke into the Quick Fill Gas Station on River Bridge Road and stole some cash, along with lottery tickets and cigarettes.

Hargrove said he attributed the arrests to “excellent networking” as well as “good investigative techniques” among those involved in the investigation.

“Everybody worked very well together from various jurisdictions,” Hargrove said.