Cherokee Sheriff's Office detectives have cracked a multi-county car break-in spree with the aid of the Canton Police Department.

The investigation began when deputies responded to a neighborhood near Canton where multiple cars were broken into.

Since then, the suspects allegedly committed at least 35 car break-ins in unincorporated Cherokee as well as similar crimes in Canton, Alpharetta and Forsyth County.

"It appears theses suspects are responsible for as many as 100 entering autos in the north Georgia Area," sheriff's office Public Information Officer Lt. Jay Baker said. "Detectives believe there are many more incidents that have not been reported and have a large quantity of property that has not been claimed."

Breaks in the case included when one of the suspects used a stolen credit card to purchase gas. The suspect's image and a possible tag number led to a search warrant at a Canton apartment where investigators found a cache of stolen property.

Detectives were then able to determine the suspects' identities. Gary Carter, 28, and his brother Joseph Carter, 27, both of Richmond Hill, were arrested by the sheriff's office. Each faces 21 counts of entering auto and two counts of financial transaction fraud.

Both remained in custody on Friday at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

Additional stolen property was found in the brothers' home in Bryan County.

Another break in the case, Baker said, resulted from the diligence of Canton Police Department detectives. They tracked the calls being made from a cell phone stolen from one of the cars. Many calls were being made to the same address in Canton where they determined the girlfriend of one of the suspects lived.

She may also be charged, Baker said, noting additional charges from other jurisdictions are expected against the suspects as well.

Detectives are compiling photographs of the stolen property, which includes purses, wallets, MP3 players, GPS units, cell phones and other small electrical devices.

Anyone who thinks they are victims of the suspects and can prove ownership of the property is asked to go to the sheriff's Criminal Investigation Office at 7545 N. Main St. in Woodstock beginning on Wednesday.

For information, call (770) 928-0239.