Arrests in Local Vehicle Burglaries and Thefts

(LANKFORD)

An Effingham man has been arrested in connection with a series of vehicle thefts and burglaries. Several others have been arrested as a result of the investigation.

24-year-old Daniel C. Lankford has been charged with theft, aggravated possession of two to five stolen firearms, two counts of burglary, two counts of felon in use of possession of firearms, criminal damage of property valued at up to $10,000, unlawful possession of a credit or debit card, and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm. All of the charges are felonies. Lankford was also arrested for a separate charge of theft of items worth up to $10,000.

An Effingham Police Department Facebook post reads that "since late February, Effingham City Police officers have taken multiple reports for motor vehicle thefts and burglaries from motor vehicles in the area. In the morning hours Wednesday, a vehicle equipped with a GPS monitoring system was reported stolen overnight from a local business, leading to the recovery of the vehicle in Altamont" along with Lankford's arrest. Lankford was located at the scene.

After Lankford's initial arrest, a search warrant was obtained for a residence in Altamont where some of the stolen property was found, including one stolen firearm. The Facebook post states that "through the investigations, detectives were able to positively identify Lankford as the suspect in at least three motor vehicle thefts and two burglaries from a motor vehicle."

In addition to Lankford, three other individuals were arrested by the Effingham County Sheriff's Office as a result of the search warrant. They are:

--49-year-old Heather M. Lindemann of Altamont--an Effingham County warrant charging possessing too many dogs

--25-year-old Shyanne L. McCarty of Effingham--two counts of possession of methamphetamine, and counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

--32-year-old Braydon T. Shelds of Decatur--possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe

Effingham County Sheriff's Office and Altamont Police Department, as well as Rural Med EMS, assisted during the incident. Authorities say all cases are still ongoing, and additional charges are pending.

According to Effingham Police Chief Jason McFarland, “Our relentless pursuit of justice underscores the unwavering dedication of our department to ensure the safety and security of our community. Burglaries and vehicle thefts disrupt and cause financial stress to our residents. Stolen guns in the hands of a repeat offender pose a severe threat to members of our community. As long as there are those who threaten the safety and well-being of our city, our resolve remains unyielding. We will continue to arrest those who break the law and jeopardize the peace, ensuring that our neighborhoods remain safe havens for all.”