2 Arrested In Suspected Auto Theft Ring Bust: Paulding Sheriff

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — A man faces 11 charges and a woman faces 10 charges in connection with a bust of a potential auto theft ring in Dallas, Paulding County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Ashley Henson said.

Last Thursday, Paulding detectives executed a search warrant on a Dallas home when they found "a significant amount of property" that had been stolen from about nine different unlocked cars over the past few months, Henson said in a news release Wednesday.

Additionally, detectives found several driver's licenses, ID cards, financial transaction cards and checks from victims, both inside and outside Paulding County. Detectives also found drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in the two rooms within the home.

"Detectives would like to reinforce the importance of locking your vehicle at night. The items that were stolen in these cases all came from unlocked vehicles. Every year, the majority of entering auto reports that the sheriff’s office receives involve unlocked vehicles," the news release said. "Don’t make yourself a victim, please lock your cars."

Kristen Dindlebeck and Steven McAdams were arrested in connection with the findings. Authorities said the two are under investigation for similar incidents in a neighboring county.

The two face multiple charges each:

Steven Roy McAdams, 28

• Seven counts of entering auto (felony)
• Two counts of theft by receiving stolen property (felony)
• One count of financial transaction card fraud (felony)
• One count of possession of methamphetamine (felony)

Kristen Ann Dindlebeck, 38

• Seven counts of entering auto (felony)
• One count of theft by receiving stolen property (felony)
• One count of possession of methamphetamine (felony)
• One count of contempt of court

Henson said additional charges could be possible as the investigation continues. Paulding detectives will be working with several jurisdictions to get property returned to all of the victims.

Anyone with information about the auto theft cases is asked to call the Paulding sheriff's tip line at 770-443-3047 or use the Paulding sheriff's mobile app.