Seven people, including a mother and a son, have been arrested by the Griffin Police Department and charged in connection with a May 30 burglary during which a Suzuki motorcycle, electronic household items, eleven firearms and approximately $300 was stolen.

Investigators on the case suspected the involvement of Douglas “D.J.” Briggs. Once Briggs became a person of interest in the case, police did not have far to look for him - he was already in custody, having been arrested for allegedly shoplifting at Wal-Mart.

“His (Griggs) brother was out of town with them,” Officer Bryan Clanton said, referring to the victimized family. “It’s believed that the suspect had firsthand knowledge that the family was out of town.”

Grigg’s brother is not a suspect in the burglary.

When confronted with a growing array of evidence against him, the GPD says he quickly became cooperative, setting off what became a chain of arrests.

“This investigation has really undergone a domino effect,” Sgt. Mark Butler said in a press release. “Each arrest leads to another suspect which yields more suspects and recovered stolen property.”

Police have charged Patrick Brent Goins, 17, with theft by receiving a stolen firearm.

His mother, Johnnie Fay Goins, 41, was charged with theft by receiving stolen property for allegedly accepting stolen goods from her son.

Kerry Cecil Sorrows, 18, was charged with one count of theft by receiving and two counts of theft by deception for allegedly pawning an iPod Nano and a paintball gun stolen from the residence.

Michael Brett Hardy, 20, was charged with theft by receiving a stolen firearm, as was Timothy Johnson, 19.

William “Bo” Curtis Breland, also 19, was charged with theft by receiving stolen property. Douglas Briggs Jr., 17, was charged with theft by receiving a stolen firearm and remains under investigation for burglary.

Because police allege Sorrows sold the stolen goods to a pawn shop, he was charged with theft by deception.

“It is common for criminals to pawn the items they steal,” Clanton in a press release. “They fail to realize that this is another separate crime. It also adds the pawn shops to the list of victims,” since the pawn shops must return the stolen goods and will not get the money back unless the court orders restitution paid.

All the suspects were arrested and transported to the Spalding County Jail.