Police suspect link in Woodbine break-ins

A Woodbine residence has been the target of burglars twice in the past week, and police are currently investigating the link between the suspects involved and the victim in the case.

According to Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Bowling, authorities arrested Mark Lawson a week ago after they caught him “red handed” breaking into a mobile home at 275 Carter Street.

“When I got there, I noticed the door had been forced open. I went up to the porch and I heard movement inside,” Bowling said. “Some guy came out the front door and I took him down at gunpoint … he said he was cold and had nowhere to go.”

Lawson, from Williamsburg, was charged with second-degree burglary.

This past Saturday, authorities were summoned to the home again after a burglary in progress was reported. When they arrived, they found the door to the mobile home totally kicked off its hinges. Police say the tenant, Amber Johnson, reported that a television, along with photographs and personal documents were taken.

Bowling said one witness, who arrived at the home during the break-in, was threatened by the prime suspect in the case.

“He told her she needed to leave and threatened her,” he said. “She left. She was very scared and I don’t blame her. This guy is crazy.”

Bowling said police are looking for 22-year-old Apren Poore and contend he is responsible for the burglary, theft and the threats. Poore was allegedly with several other people, who left the scene before police arrived in a black car.
Bowling said authorities are searching for Poore and other suspects in the case, who have been identified but were not revealed at press time Tuesday.

Bowling said Lawson and Poore are friends and police are currently investigating a possible motive for the break-ins and whether the two men worked together on them.

“The investigation is ongoing and arrests are pending,” Bowling said.