Hardeeville Police arrest suspect in series of vehicle break-ins hours after launching new initiative to prevent them

HARDEEVILLE, SC (WTOC) - Officers with the Hardeeville Police Department have arrested a man they believe to be associated with multiple vehicle break-ins in Bluffton and Jasper County.

This comes hours after the Hardeevile Police Department announced they were launching a new public safety initiative aimed at preventing vehicle break-ins.

In a press release, officials say that at approximately 3:20 p.m., officers with the Hardeeville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle previously identified as being connected to multiple recent vehicle break-ins in the Hilton Head Lakes and Argent Boulevard area of Hardeeville.

Through coordinated investigative efforts, Hardeeville detectives identified 29-year-old John Williams III of Jacksonville, Florida as a suspect, the release states.

Following further investigation, Williams was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Jasper County Detention Center.

John Williams III‘s charges include:

• Breaking into a Motor Vehicle (Numerous Counts)
• Financial Transaction Card Theft
• Financial Transaction Card Fraud
• Receiving Stolen Goods
• Tampering with a Motor Vehicle
• Simple Possession of Marijuana
• No South Carolina Driver’s License Issued

This remains an active investigation, and additional charges are anticipated.

"The Hardeeville Police Department remains committed to protecting the community and will continue working closely with partner agencies in Jasper County and Bluffton to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes," the press release states.