Area News

Couple caught in motel mattress theft

Gatlinburg Police apprehended a couple allegedly trying to steal mattresses from a motel after the woman made accusatory statements to police regarding her boyfriend, Saturday, Aug. 21.According to Gatlinburg Police Reports, Officer Sharon Atchley was dispatched to Ski View Motel on Highway 321 where she was told two suspicious persons were at the pool. When she arrived, she found a couple in an unlit part of the back parking lot by an old storage shed. After questioning them separately, she found out from the woman that they had allegedly secured a rope from the pool area to tie mattresses they had intended to take from the storage shed to their car. One was already propped against the car ready to haul away, said Atchley.
Crash and dash with the cash burglars plague Sevierville and Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg Police joined Sevierville Police this week in looking for burglars who prey on businesses during the night. The thieves throw rocks through the windows to take cash registers and merchandise. Sevierville Police reported three similar type crimes occurred Aug. 12, at Finish Line Car Wash, 703 Parkway; Aug. 18, at the Cherokee Trading Post, 1590 Winfield Dunn Parkway; and the following day at Virgil’s Restaurant, 109 Bruce Street. GPD Officer Gary McCarter said the burglars hit two other businesses the same way within the past two weeks.
In Gatlinburg, according to reports, on Aug. 17, someone threw a rock through a front door window at the Tan Gatlinburg on East Parkway and jerked the cash register loose from the counter. According to Officer McCarter’s report, about $200 in cash was taken.On Aug. 15, Officer McCarter investigated a burglary at Shirley’s Texaco, on the Parkway. McCarter’s report stated that someone had broken into the building through a rear window and tried to open the safe. The burglars then removed the safe bolted to the structure and took it out the window. Officers believe that it took at least two persons to remove the heavy safe. The morning clerk said he first noticed that several disposable cameras and cigarettes were missing when he arrived about 6:30 a.m. They were found near the window where they were left behind.On Aug. 15, a burglary was reported at Ace Hardware, East Parkway. Officer McCarter reported that a city employee noticed a glass broken at the store about 9 a.m. He said it appeared the burglars had tried to break out one window glass unsuccessfully before switching to another. Two computer point-of-sale cash registers were removed though the broken window. Police found one keyboard in the parking lot and coins scattered inside and outside of the building. Some merchandise also appeared to be missing, including a circular saw saw, a grinder and several reciprocating saws.
Forgery suspected in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg Police are investigating a forged check passed at Maples Amoco on East Parkway, Aug. 18. According to GPD reports, the check was forged on a local account. A suspect was listed in the report.
Counterfeit bill found