Gwinnett County Police capture second suspect in series of auto break-ins

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA— The second suspect wanted for a series of auto break-ins plaguing Gwinnett County was captured during a traffic stop in the city of Suwanee, authorities announced on today (March 18).

Roy Higgins, 28, of Buford, was arrested on March 12 by officers conducting a traffic stop of the vehicle he was driving ion Lawrenceville-Suwannee. Authorities said Higgins, who was wanted for dozens of charges stemming from a series of auto break-ins in 2023, was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail around 10 p.m.

Higgins is facing charges of Entering Auto (10 counts); Financial Transaction Card Fraud (10 counts); Obstruction (1 count); Improper Lane Change (1 count); Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (1 count); Possession of Marijuana (1 count); Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts) and Probation Violation (1 count).

Bryon Hunt, 27, of Forsyth, was arrested on June 30, 2023 at a home on Chablis Court in Lawrenceville. He is currently incarcerated at the Gwinnett County Jail, facing charges of Entering Auto (13 counts) and Financial Transaction Card Fraud (11 counts).

The long-term entering auto investigation resulted in 49 criminal charges between Higgins and Hunt, authorities said.

On April 17, a man reported that his vehicle was broken into on White Birch Way in unincorporated Lawrenceville. During the theft, his firearm was stolen. Shortly after the report, the case was assigned to a detective in the General Crimes Unit. The lead detective discovered several auto break-ins near  Verner Road and Whitehead Place Drive.

On May 17, detectives got a lead after a  victim reported that credit cards were stolen. The investigation revealed that those credit cards were used fraudulently at a Wal-Mart in Lawrenceville. Detectives visited the Wal-Mart and obtained images of the suspects and a vehicle description of what they were driving.

On May 20, several more entering auto cases were reported in the area of Berkshire Eve Drive in unincorporated Duluth.

Detectives got another break in the case on May 24. Patrol officers located the suspect’s vehicle   and attempted a traffic stop. The driver, however, abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Police found a stolen firearm inside the vehicle. They arrested Hunt on a warrant at his home a month later.

Booking photos of the suspects provided via Gwinnett County Police Department.