Half a dozen thefts or burglaries were reported in Columbia County during Hurricane Helene, as locals evacuated their homes to find access to power and water.
Incident reports from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office show there were at least six home burglaries related to Helene in the county from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6.
In one of the incidents, reported on Oct. 2 in Martinez, a tree hit a home on Merion Court during Hurricane Helene. While the family went to stay in Athens, someone entered the home through an unlocked window.
The family’s belongings were “rummaged through,” with clothing and personal items scattered around the bedroom, according to an incident report. A $1,100 watch was reportedly missing.
In another incident, reported on Oct. 3 in Evans, a family living on Ardrey Circle returned to their home after regaining power and realized their front door was unlocked.
The majority of the family’s clothing was missing from their bedroom closet, along with several handbags, according to an incident report.