The mystery of three car thefts in three counties was solved over the weekend through investigative work by the Red Boiling Springs Police Department and a call to the Sheriff's Department by a concerned citizen.

Ronald Dewayne Blair and Barry Allen Gibbs, both of Red Boiling Springs, were arrested and charged in connection with a truck stolen in Red Boiling Springs and a car stolen from McMinnville.

Barry Payne, also of Red Boiling Springs, parked his 2001 Ford pickup truck in front of the Texaco Star Mart on Friday, August 25 while he ran into the store to pick something up.

Leaving the keys in the ignition made Payne’s truck an easy and quick pickup for the thieves. The truck, valued at $10,000, was gone when Payne came out of the store a few minutes later.

Through investigation, RBS Police Chief Terry Tuck developed several suspects who were in the area at the time the truck disappeared. Witnesses at the Star Mart identified one of the suspects as having been at the store at the time of the theft.

Later that day, Officer Doug McDonald went to the home of Ronnie Blair, 36, at 750 McClure Street, to arrest him for investigation.

While there, McDonald ran the tags on a Pontiac G-6 that was sitting in the driveway and found that the car had been stolen from DeKalb County.

Blair was interviewed after his arrest, and gave a statement about his involvement in taking the truck from Star Mart. He was charged with theft over $1,000, with a general sessions court date set for September 16. Blair's bond was set at $10,000.

On Sunday, August 27, Payne's pickup truck was located at a McMinnville shopping center parking lot.

Another car had recently been stolen from that same parking lot, involved in a high-speed chase with McMinnville Police Officers, but not recovered.

The car was recovered Sunday night after a concerned citizen contacted the Macon County Sheriff's Department about a suspicious vehicle parked on the Carthage Road.

When deputies responded to the call, they found Barry Gibbs asleep in the car. When they ran the tags on the vehicle, it was found to be the car that was stolen from the McMinnville parking lot where Payne's truck was found.

Gibbs, 27, of Heady Ridge Road was arrested and charged with theft over $1,000. Gibbs, whose bond was set at $10,000, awaits a court date of September 16.

Payne's pick up was released back to him; DeKalb County came and picked up the Pontiac G-6; and the stolen McMinnville car was confiscated by the Macon County Sheriff's Department.