Gwinnett Daily Post

STONE MOUNTAIN -- Gwinnett County police have nabbed a man they believe responsible for a series of air conditioner thefts in the Stone Mountain area.

Spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said officers were called to Westheimer Road -- off Rockbridge Road not far from Centerville Highway -- at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to respond to a call of a man tampering with AC units. They were able to apprehend 25-year-old Zierre Fame Odom before he could leave the neighborhood.

Odom's vehicle contained "several air conditioner parts, wiring and copper tubing," Smith said. Detectives from the metal theft unit determined the parts to be from five different units. After narrowing their search to vacant homes, they were able to find all of the victim houses within a few hours, police said.

Odom was arrested and charged with five counts apiece of felony theft by taking and second-degree criminal damage to property, as well as counts of possession of tools for the commission of a crime and loitering and prowling.

The recent events aren't the first time Odom has been accused of similar crimes. Last summer, the Snellville resident was arrested in connection with air conditioner thefts at a home that was "temporarily vacant for repairs" and a "vacant preschool building," Smith said.