"Cigarette Bandits" Arrested In Washington County

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reports the apprehension and arrest of two suspects known to multiple law enforcement agencies in the tri-state area as the “cigarette bandits”.  The pair earned the title by allegedly breaking into several small grocery stores, convenience stores, and similar businesses throughout the area.  Once inside, their primary focus was the theft of large amounts of cigarettes.  Over $100,000 in cigarettes have been stolen at the hands of these two individuals. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation indicates that the thieves would steal the cigarettes and then transport them to the Polk County area of Florida to sell them. 

WCSO Investigators responded to a call from Orange Hill Express in the early hours of Wednesday morning concerning a theft and while investigating, tracked the suspects to Calhoun County where they were assisted by Calhoun County deputies as they located and confronted the suspects at a residence.

WCSO Investigators were able to recover all of the stolen cigarettes from the latest burglary and arrest both suspects.

Arrested was:

Roger Gary Driggers, 58 year old white male of Lakeland, FL.

·      Burglary

·      Criminal Mischief

·      Grand Theft

·      Violation of Probation

George Francis Gore, 68 year old white male of Mulberry, FL

·      Burglary

·      Criminal Mischief

·      Grand Theft

·      Violation of Probation

“The resolution of this case would not have been possible without the critical assistance from Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office” states Sheriff Haddock.  “We needed a break in the case and there is nothing more valuable to law enforcement than a multi-agency collaboration.  These guys went above and beyond.”