Three men arrested Friday morning are facing charges of up to 10 burglaries throughout the county, according to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

A three-week-long investigation culminated when a deputy spotted a vehicle that had been reported by witnesses as being in the area of homes where burglaries had been reported. According to the sheriff’s office reports, Deputy Mike Kendricks spotted the car in Springfield and followed it to a nearby gas station.

He pulled in behind the vehicle and made contact with the three people inside, later identified as Brandon Turnbow, 25, Preston Turnbow, 23, and Francis Folgarait, 26, all of Rincon.

“They were involved in several burglaries in northern and southern Effingham County,” Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said. “From witness reports, we were able to determine what they were driving and had a lookout for the vehicle.”

In the car, deputies found items that had been reported taken from a home on Benjamin Gnann Road that morning. They also found laptops and jewelry in the vehicle.

Sheriff’s investigators had been piecing together evidence after multiple homes were broken into in both southern and northern Effingham County. The burglars were forcing their way into the homes and taking jewelry and electronics during daylight hours.

“We believe they are responsible for several burglaries where they were kicking in doors and throwing bricks through windows to gain access to the homes,” McDuffie said.

All three face 10 counts of burglary, criminal trespass, and possession of tools during the commission of a crime.

Preston Turnbow was also wanted out of Bulloch County for burglary and had an outstanding warrant out of Texas.

The investigation is still ongoing at this time and additional charges are expected.