Detectives with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Special Investigations Unit (SIU) have arrested a man and woman believed to be responsible for mail thefts at residences across the county.
The investigation into the rash of thefts began at the start of the month when patrol deputies began responding to numerous calls from people who reported finding their mailboxes open and pieces of mail missing. SIU investigators became involved when deputies noticed a pattern in the crimes.
“At this point in the investigation, Brent David Groover, 27, of Lula, and Jayleigh Ryan Hicks, 18, of Hampton, have been identified as the primary suspects in the thefts,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman B.J. Williams said. “Both have been implicated in mail thefts that occurred on Aug. 20, 2026, at residences in Flowery Branch and Buford. Victims were able to provide investigators with security camera footage of a white Kia Forte entering the neighborhood in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 20. Investigators obtained the tag number from the security footage. Using Flock safety cameras, investigators were able to locate and seize the vehicle on Tuesday, Aug. 25.”
Groover and Hicks were taken into custody on Wednesday when Warrant Service Unit deputies went to a residence on Pine Station Drive in Lula where Groover had been staying with a relative. “Groover ran when he saw deputies approach the residence,” Williams said. “He refused deputies’ commands to stop and continued to run. A K9 team tracked Groover and found him hiding under a shed behind a residence about a half mile away. Hicks was arrested at the house without incident.”
Currently, Groover and Hicks each face five counts of theft by taking and count of porch piracy related to the crimes on Aug. 20. In addition, Groover was charged with obstruction. “He also had active arrest warrants out of both Gwinnett and Henry counties. Hicks also had an active arrest warrant out of Henry County,” Williams added.
Investigators anticipate additional charges as they continue their investigation.
Both Groover and Hicks remained in custody at the Hall County Jail Friday afternoon.