3 Arrested for Stealing High-end Rims

Police recovered a quarter million dollars of high-end "custom" rims in Butts County. A tractor-trailer filled with the goods was stolen from a Jackson business on Highway 42 in early February.

Detectives said the custom rims would normally sell for about $500 to a $1,000 in the store.

The suspects were reportedly trying to unload them for a fraction of that. They were busted last week after police were tipped off.

"This trailer is completely full -- you can just step through the door. There are several hundred rims here. These brand new rims -- they come from a manufacturer, distributor, very high end," said Major Mike Overbey of the Butts County Sheriffs Office.

Police said hundreds of high end rims were stolen from a Jackson business sometime between February 6 and 9.

"Very, very high end wheels. Different sizes never been on a vehicle before -- about a quarter million dollars in merchandise, yes. Once they get to the store and the store sells them to the public," Overbey said.

Butts County sheriff's officials have charged three men with stealing the high-end loot.

"They stole a tractor trailer that was filled with this. [They] took it to a desolate location. They loaded pick up trucks and a small trailer and brought it back to their house to be sold at a later time," said Overbey.

Detectives said 33-year-old Wilmer Webb, who works at the American Woodmark Company on Highway 42 was the mastermind.

Major mike overbey said they were tipped off that the stolen goods were being housed at webb's home.

"We had word they were hiding this merchandise. We offered to buy a rim with the undercover. We checked the serial number. It came back stolen from that hijacking," Overbey said.

Webb, and his alleged accomplices, 54-year-old William Barnes and 32-year-old Jerry Evans are all in custody -- charged with theft by taking, burglary, and theft by receiving.

Police say the stolen rims were recovered in a storage bin behind Webb's house.