Birmingham, AL 08/08/2016
A series of burglaries in Eastern Valley and McCalla areas began on July 22nd with a reported burglary on High School Road. The following week similar burglaries were reported on Sparks Gap Road, Shades Avenue and Potter Avenue.
A home surveillance camera in one of the homes captured video of the suspects forcing open the back door and leaving with property belonging to the victim. Images from that surveillance video were shared with local media.
Detectives went about talking to victims, witnesses and neighbors and developed a suspect in the burglaries.
31 year old Dewayne Thomas Hill was positively identified as one of the offenders involved in the burglaries. On August 5, sheriff’s detectives obtained arrest warrants on Hill charging him with Burglary 2nd Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, Theft of Property 2nd Degree and Theft of Property 4th Degree.
Detectives are still working to identify a second suspect.
Photographs of Hill and a description of the vehicle he was driving were distributed to patrol deputies in the area. A list of locations where Hill might be staying was also provided.
Just before 2:00 am on Saturday August 6, deputies located the car at a residence in the 2100 block of Clarendon Avenue in Bessemer. Additional units were called to the house. Deputies knocked on the door. It was answered by a woman who told them that she did not know if Hill was in the home or not. Hill was seen running toward the back door to escape. Deputies entered the house and arrested him.
While at the home, deputies discovered that two of the women present had outstanding felony warrants. 29 year old Nikia Craig of Bessemer had two outstanding felony warrants for Possession of a Forged Instrument. 30 year old Tasjana Varner of Bessemer also had two outstanding felony warrants for Possession of a Forged Instrument. These women were arrested as well.
Dewayne Thomas Hill
Dewayne Thomas Hill remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $65,000. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.
Tasjana Lujan Varner remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
Tasjana Lujan Varner
Nikia Renae Craig remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $22,500.
Nikia Renae Craig