Local citizens could reclaim property

By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County residents who have noticed missing items or property around their homes or businesses may be able to reclaim their items.

The Albany Police Department was dispatched on Thursday, Jan. 14 to the 700 block of North 9th Street in Albany in reference to theft.

Albany PD officers took a theft of property report from the owner and then began to search for the vehicle identified by the reporting party as possibly being involved in the crime. 

Albany Chief of Police Mike House identified a vehicle matching the description given by the property owner.

House made contact with two subjects in the vehicle, which was pulling a trailer, in the 100 block of East South Street.

During the contact and investigation, officers came to believe the two subjects had taken scrap metal and other objects from different properties around Albany and Shackelford County, possibly on multiple occasions. 

“When we began to look at the items in the trailer, we realized that not all of the contents were scrap metal,” House said. 

Samuel Michael Stillabouer, 22, and Samantha Seaton, 21, were taken into custody and transported to the Shackelford County jail and booked for theft.

“Because these crimes were committed during a nationally declared time of disaster due to the COVID pandemic, the charges will be enhanced,” said House. “Instead of being charged with a Class A misdemeanor, these subjects will now be charged with a state jail felony.”

Items found in the search include but are not limited to scrap metal, oil field equipment/parts, vehicle parts/accessories, household items, and fencing materials. 

Residents in Shackelford County, including the cities of Albany, Moran, and Lueders, are instructed to contact the Albany police department to identify any personal property that has been missing.

House said he had already received one call from an Albany citizen who was able to identify property and a Moran citizen who has not been able to come in due to being in quarantine.

All property will be held for a minimum of 30 days while the investigation continues. 

“Just because property is sitting in an alley or next to a building does not mean it is scrap material,” warned House. “The property belongs to someone, and permission must be received before it can be removed.”

House advised all local residents to keep an eye out for any suspicious people or activity.

“If you see something that doesn’t look right, you need to report it immediately,” said House.