ROGERSVILLE - Christopher Timothy Covington may be one of the most successful "smash and grab" burglars of all time, but he went to the well once too often early Monday morning when he allegedly attempted a break into a market in the St. Clair community of Hawkins County.
Around 2 a.m. Monday Hawkins County deuties and Rogersville police responded to a burglary alarm at the CJ Market at the intersection of Melinda Ferry Road and Rt. 113. While officers were on the scene a vehicle passed by which witnesses identified as being the attempted burlar's getaway car.
Police stopped the car and arrested Covington, 21, 3111 Norman Drive, Morristown, as well as a female driver who hadn't been charged as of Tuesday but was expected to be charged as getaway driver in multiple smash and grab burglaries.
Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson said Covington is cooperating with investigators. The Hamblen County Sheriff's Office and Morristown Police Department are expected to charge Covington with at least 25 smash and grab burglaries combined.
He is also suspected of smash and grabs in Greene and Grainger Counties, as well as Bean Station. Hawkins County has already charged him in four smahs and grabs and the Rogersville police department has charged him with one.