Gwinnett County residents can breathe a tentative sigh of relief as police report an arrest in a series of brazen burglaries at the Brentwood Downs Apartments on Pleasant Hill Road. Darrius Stokes, a 28-year-old resident of the afflicted apartment complex, is now facing charges for his alleged involvement in at least nine break-ins, where in some instances, he purportedly entered apartments while residents were present.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the burglaries occurred between June 2 and July 7. Residents were reportedly inside their homes during two of the invasions when Stokes is said to have forced his way in. Stokes was subsequently arrested by a SWAT team, with several of the stolen items discovered in his home.
Megan Treadwell, one of the alleged victims of these crimes, shared her harrowing experience with Channel 2, stating, "It's absolutely terrifying. You can't really protect yourself if you don't know they're here." She described how Stokes allegedly intruded into her home while the family was asleep and stole items including her son's customized PlayStation 5.
Gwinnett County Police Department has worked diligently to connect the stolen property back to its rightful owners. Body camera footage released by authorities shows SWAT officers apprehending Stokes at his residence, where stolen goods ranging from electronics to jewelry were found. Stokes now remains in custody at the Gwinnett County Jail, charged with nine counts of burglary and two counts of theft by deception.
With the investigation still ongoing, Gwinnett County Police encourage anyone with additional information to come forward. Residents can contact the Gwinnett County Police Department at (770) 513-5300 or reach out to Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477.
