Five suspects are behind bars following an ongoing Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office effort to break up a crime ring that reached four counties.

Since Wednesday the LCSO has recovered tens of thousands in stolen property including several ATVs, many various household items, electronics, yard equipment, hunting equipment, trailers and vintage furniture and jewelry. The five arrested have connections to each other and collectively have been linked to at least four cases in Lincoln County and one case in Franklin County. LCSO Sheriff Steve Rushing said the department has more leads to pursue and expects to learn about more suspects and more burglaries during the ongoing investigation.

“It’s a good step for us on some of our theft we had going on,” Rushing said. “We’re steadily recovering property and steadily working to tie them to any other cases we have. As we get one we’re picking up information on other cases so it’s going to be a steady, continuing thing for a while.”

So far, deputies have learned that all cases involved secondary residences, such as camp houses or family weekend homes, that were stolen from over the past two or three months.

Ashdon H. Brister, 22, of 25 Kary Lambert Lane in Jayess, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with burglary of a dwelling.

Brister was apprehended in connection to a theft on Highway 583. Working on this case, which is still ongoing, officers began unraveling a network of burglary suspects and stolen property. There is a warrant out for one more suspected in the Highway 583 case, which involved a stolen laptop and various other household items.

On Thursday, LCSO arrested Fred Shelton, 37, of 2636 Old Red Star Road, on two counts of possession of stolen property, two counts of burglary of all but a dwelling and possession of a controlled substance.

So far, Shelton has been linked to the most cases. He was in possession of a Honda ATV stolen from Hinds County and a utility trailer from Jefferson County. He was linked to a case on Melvin Mason Road, involving at least one other suspect in custody, involving stolen housewares, hunting items and a utility trailer. He was also allegedly involved in another case on Pricedale Road, involving at least one other suspect in custody, where a large amount of lawn equipment such as tillers, weed-eaters, a trailer and an ATV were taken.

Shelton has also been linked to a case in Franklin County, which ties most of the apprehended suspects together. The case involves three other suspects in custody and a large amount of antique furniture and jewelry taken. Michael Nuckles, 44, of 1646 Wellman Drive, was arrested on Sunday for two counts of burglary of all but dwelling in connection to the case in Franklin County, on Pricedale Road and Melvin Mason Road.

Kelli Smith, 31, was arrested Monday morning for burglary of a dwelling in connection to the case in Franklin County.

William C. Frazer, 53, 1349 Monticello St., is also allegedly involved with the case in Franklin County. Frazer had been arrested earlier on July 14 for probation violation, possession/carrying concealed weapon and possession of controlled substance. He was charged with one count of burglary.

Recovered property will be returned to the owners throughout the week.