An “alert neighbor” and “good minded businessman” has led to the arrest of a Dozier man following a theft of more than $3,000 in power tools from a Rose Hill home.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said James Edwin Smith, AKA “Pe-Bo,” 35, is now charged with first-degree receiving stolen property as a result of the incident after he allegedly sold the stolen tools to a local business owner.

“On Aug. 5, the homeowner filed a report with the sheriff’s office stating that numerous tools and other items were missing from the shop behind his house,” Meeks said. “An alert neighbor called deputies to the area because he had seen a strange vehicle leaving the property.

“On Aug. 9, a business owner called Sgt. Waylon Griggs and told him he had purchased some items and wanted Sgt. Griggs to ‘check them out’ to see if they were possibly stolen,” he said.

Meeks said they were identified as the items reported stolen only days earlier from the Rose Hill residence, following an investigation by Inv. Greg Jackson.

Smith is now being held in the Covington County Jail under a $200,000 bond, as well as a parole violation on previous drug conviction, which carries no bond.

Meeks said additional charges and arrests could be forthcoming.