Two Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Child’s Christmas Presents
CROCKETT COUNTY, Tenn.- Deputies said they busted thieves for stealing a child’s Christmas presents, Tuesday. Investigators arrested Rickie Lumley, 32, and April Kennon, 33, and charged them with aggravated burglary after a resident who is a part of the neighborhood watch spotted the two suspiciously parked at a residence in Friendship. Deputies said the tip lead them to a nearby store where officials caught the two red-handed with the stolen Christmas gifts. “We got the Grinch in jail, so we got the Christmas presents back,” said Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce. Mother of two, Debbie Smallwood, said she is glad authorities were able to recover the gifts. However, she believes the magic of surprising her loved ones on Christmas morning has been taken. “How do you explain to a 3-year-old ‘you’re not supposed to see this right now,'” said Smallwood. “To a 3-year-old it’s the world. There is no surprise now.” Investigators said they believe Lumley and Kennon went in through the back door. “They stole some of our toys and some of my mom’s jewelry,” said son Adrian Martinez. Deputies said the alleged thieves also emptied the families medicine cabinets. Smallwood said burglars even took her youngest son’s asthma medication. “He opened that top drawer right there and just threw things everywhere; just ransacked it,” said Smallwood. Even though the toys were recovered, family members said their Christmas will not be the same. Instead of spreading the spirit of Christmas, Smallwood said her children are learning a hard lesson. “It’s hard to explain it to them i just tried to make them understand there are bad people that take from us even though we work hard for what we do have.” Deputies said they believe Lumley and Kennon could be connected to several other burglaries through out the area. Their investigation is ongoing.
