Bossier Sheriff’s deputies captured three culprits in the act late Sunday evening stealing various auto parts from used cars that were parked in a rural lot not far from Benton High School on Highway 3.

The vehicles were located near Saddle Dr. and Wilson Loop in Benton and were either going to be sold as is or used as parts for a local auto salvage yard. The owners of the auto business had previously informed Bossier detectives they noticed several of their cars sitting on blocks after being lifted by jacks and parts stolen from them.

As part of the investigation, deputies caught two suspects red-handed stealing car parts just before midnight Sunday and another suspect drive up to the scene during the caper.
Arrested were 24 year-old Frank A. Crandell, 41 year-old Blaze J. Blackman and 55 year-old Lowell L. Spence, Sr. all of Bossier City.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found Blackman and Spence hiding under some of the cars. They also found tools and a generator used to help dismantle the cars. While there, Crandell drove on the scene to partake in the heist. All three admitted to detectives to stealing thousands of dollars of various car parts, including Catalytic Converters, tire rims and radiators, at least four times over the past few weeks. The culprits even cut tires to get to the rims and rip out the radiators to sell for scrap metal.

Crandell, Blackman and Spence were each charged with felony theft, criminal trespassing and criminal property damage. Crandell was also arrested on a fugitive warrant. The trio was transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility for booking.