Detectives with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office have solved a multi-parish burglary spree.
A Minden man was charged with several counts of burglary after he reportedly admitted to stealing thousands of dollars worth of tools, guns, oilfield equipment and other items from Webster, Bossier and Claiborne parishes.
Cody Alan Weeks, 24, of the 1500 block of Shreveport Road, was arrested Friday, Dec. 18, for four counts of burglary, three counts of felony theft of a firearm, felony illegal possession of stolen things, felony theft, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, possession of Schedule II CDS (methamphetamine) and possession of Schedule I CDS (marijuana). A hold has been placed on him by Probation and Parole.
Detective Scott Tucker says the first burglary was reported around mid-November.
“People were reporting that they’d go outside and their car door would be open or their toolboxes would be left open on their trucks with stuff taken out of it,” he said. “The weekend of Dec. 6, we had four burglaries. One was on Germantown Road; we had some up on Methodist Camp Road, areas north of Minden.”
Tucker says Claiborne authorities were reporting similar thefts.
“We had a theft on Highway 518, and the description of the truck reminded us of Cody Weeks, who we’d arrested last on Dec. 23, 2014, for basically the same type of stuff,” he said. “These were done late at night, usually between 12 and 4 in the morning.”
Tucker, Maj. Dustin Reynolds and Det. Bobby Igo III went to Weeks’ residence Dec. 14, after receiving information that he was possibly involved. When they arrived, detectives noticed underneath his carport items they knew to be stolen.
By that time, three firearms had been stolen, and Tucker says following his arrest, Weeks admitted to stealing and trading the weapons for drugs.
“Weeks admitted he was the one who was doing the burglaries,” he said. “He then told us he traded the firearms for four grams of methamphetamine at a residence in Shreveport.”
The U.S. Marshal’s Service assisted the sheriff’s office in recovering the firearms along with some tools that were stolen from Webster Parish.
Tucker and Reynolds went on to say Weeks’ arrest solved four or more burglaries in Claiborne Parish and four additional burglaries in Webster and Bossier parishes.
“We recovered some items and we were able to track down victims, some of which hadn’t even reported or didn’t realize that they’d had a theft,” Reynolds said. “He would take things from shops and vehicles that you might not need today or tomorrow, and you may not realize for two months when you need that item that it’s gone.”
Tucker and Reynolds say he was selling the items at various truck stops and other places to support his drug habit. Further investigation revealed that Weeks has not been employed since he was sentenced for simple burglary in April, the detectives said, and he is behind on his probation fee payments as well as paying restitution for roughly $5,500.
In April, according to court records, Weeks pleaded guilty to simple burglary and was sentenced to three years at hard labor suspended and placed on three years active supervised probation.
“Last time, he hit a shop and stole about $20,000 worth of stuff, but he had several people with him,” Tucker said. “This time, he was by himself, going and stealing what he could get.”
Detectives are asking anyone who purchased items from Weeks to call the sheriff’s office and make arrangements to return them. If they do not, Reynolds says they face the charge of illegal possession of stolen things.
“We’re going to give an amnesty period for anyone who bought things from Cody Weeks to contact us and let us get them back,” Reynolds said. “We won’t ask any questions; however, if we have to track every item and find every person, we will. Then they will be charged.”
Tucker says additional charges are pending in this case and they are still recovering items as the investigation continues.
