James C. Lowe and Kristy A. Smith
A Sevier County couple is accused of stealing copper tubing from propane tanks and air conditioning coils from a church and nearly a dozen homes.
According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, James C. Lowe, 25 of Sevierville and Kristy A. Smith, 34, of Gatlinburg face 13 charges each of theft and vandalism.
A 911 call about the smell of gas in the Ski Mountain Road area of Gatlinburg started the investigation. Gatlinburg Police Department found that the copper tubing of a propane tank had been cut and started a leak.
The two departments teamed up to track down the suspects, who had been caught on surveillance camera during one of the crimes.
On Wednesday, a Gatlinburg officer spotted the suspects and took them into custody for questioning. That's when investigators discovered they were also responsible for stealing the air conditioning condenser from New Era Baptist Church in Sevierville on August 21 as well as 11 other rental cabins.
The investigation in continuing and more charges may be placed.
Anyone with information on the pair is asked to contact the Sevier County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division at 865-428-1899 or the Gatlinburg Police Dept. at 865-436-5181.