Stolen Items Recovered, Including One Taken 16 Months Ago

TYLER � The Smith County Sheriff�s Department has recovered several stolen items, including one taken sixteen months ago. That�s when a Tyler church congregation lost a $7,000 barbecue pit to theft. On May 1, acting on a tip, Detective James Riggle and other Sheriff�s Office personnel investigated a barbecue pit for sale in North Tyler that matched the description of the one taken from the church on January 9, 2012. Officials said late Tuesday afternoon that the pit was in the process of being returned to the congregation. The case is under investigation.

Elsewhere, several stolen lawn equipment items have been recovered from a residence in northern Smith County during a search for an individual. Sheriff�s Office deputies were at the residence on an outstanding warrant searching for Jeremy Silva, 22. Silva (pictured) was not at the location, but while there, deputies discovered several pieces of stolen lawn equipment, according to authorities. After receiving a search warrant, deputies recovered seven items connected to theft cases dating back to October 2012. The following day, Silva was located and another piece of equipment was recovered and released to the owner. Silva is currently in the Smith County Jail on an unrelated charge. Other charges are pending.