TENANTS HARBOR — Knox County Sheriff's deputies needed just six hours to figure out who committed two reported burglaries on Long Cove Road in St. George Friday, according to Chief Deputy Tim Carroll Sunday, Nov. 4.

Ricky Block, 46, of St. George, was arrested and charged with two counts of burglary, three counts of theft and one count of criminal mischief, as well as violation of conditions of release.

Block was on bail when he allegedly committed the new crimes. Thomaston Police Sgt. Tim Hoppe arrested Block Oct. 19 on charges of burglary, theft by deception and criminal trespass.

The Thomaston charges stemmed from an investigation that turned up more than a thousand stolen items, including earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, watches, televisions, tennis rackets and sneakers.

In that case, which involved alleged burglaries across Knox and Washington counties, Block had been cooperating with police, including turning over a lot of the stolen items.

Friday's incident began around 4 p.m., when deputies received reports of two burglaries on Long Cove Road. One residence reported several items of valuable jewelry missing, along with a television and other valued items missing sometime in the previous 24 hours.

The second burglarized residence, located approximately 100 yards away from the other, also reported items stolen. According to Carroll in a press release, both residences were broken into in a similar manner.

Deputy Nathanial Jack, who was also involved in the Thomaston case, responded to investigate the crime scenes with Sgt. Michael Sprague.

The officers located Block, who lived in town and was on bail, and questioned him about the new burglaries, according to Carroll. The officers also learned that a vehicle fitting Block's description was reported as being seen recently by Long Cove Road neighbors.

A subsequent search of Block's vehicle and residence allegedly turned up evidence linking him to the new burglaries and Block was arrested.

Carroll said the incident remains under investigation. Block remains in jail Sunday.