NEWPORT-Two men allegedly involved in the theft of $30,000 worth of cash and jewelry from a Newport home on New Year's Day have been arrested according to Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange.

      On Sunday, CCSD Detective Bryan Murr arrested Elijah Ramsey, 19, 132 Douglas Ave., Newport, and Randy Mathis, 20, 2810 Knob Creek Road, Bybee, on charges of aggravated burglary and theft over $10,000 after learing the two were allegedly involved in the theft of property from the home of Randy Mathis, 46, 1819 Cherry Brook Way, Newport.

      On Jan. 1, Deputies C.J. Ball and Lt. Rick Laws learned from Randy Mathis that someone had entered his home through a window and stole a safe containing $3,000 in rings and $27,000 cash. The loss, including the safe, totaled $30,140. At the time of the incident, Randy Mathis told deputies that a neighbor reported seeing a white male wearing glasses and a baseball cap driving a black, extended cab Ford Ranger around 11:30 a.m. The neighbor was reportedly traveling to work when the Ranger was spotted pulling into the driveway of Randy Mathis' residence.

      Strange told the Plain Talk that this arrest was made by a combined effort within the department. Strange said he has told his deputies that after investigating break-ins and robberies, "to get the information to the detectives as soon as possible. Through working together, we can get these incidents solved."

      Ramsey and Mathis were arrested at the detective's office on Sunday after being called in for an interview. The two were placed in jail and held on a $10,000 bond. However, the sheriff reports the men did make bail. Their preliminary hearing will be before Judge John Bell in General Sessions Court on Monday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m.

Of the investigating officers (Ball, Laws and Murr), the sheriff said, "These three men did an exceptional job. We're striving to stop this stuff. I'm not bragging, because it's the men who do this (but) I just ask our men to stay with it and get with a detective as soon as possible."

      Strange said that, although manpower is slim at times, he wants the community to be aware of the presence local law enforcement officers are working to set. "I instill in our men (the importance) of getting out in the community and being seen."