The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office has recovered a number of tools, lawn and garden equipment, and other miscellaneous items that are suspected to have been stolen from Alexander and surrounding counties. The recovery is a result of an intensive investigation into a suspected theft ring and Investigators need help from larceny victims to identify their items.
Over the past several months the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous reports of larcenies from open garages and carports. The reports, some of which date back to the beginning of 2015, established a pattern of thefts of items ranging from weed trimmers and power tools to gas cans and fishing rods. Investigators learned that the suspects would approach a residence and knock on the door first to see if anyone was home. If no one answered from within the home the suspects would proceed to steal items from open garages and carport storage areas, eventually taking the items back to a third-party re-seller, known as a “fence”, who would then help sell the items and split the profit. If anyone answered the door when the suspects knocked they would generally ask the homeowners a question about an unrelated matter before leaving.
It was discovered that the suspects were known to drive an older model car spray painted black with a broken windshield and black wheels. The suspects were described by witnesses as being an older heavy build white female with reddish-brown hair and some witnesses also reported seeing a white male with her.
On Friday, October 16, 2015 Investigators stopped the suspect vehicle described by witnesses and identified the female inside as Saundra Cantrell, white female, age 45, of Catawba County. There was a white male identified as Larry Allan Miller, of Hickory with her. Inside the car Investigators found stolen property from Burke County. Both were charged with Larceny and Obtaining Property by False Pretense. More charges will be filed. Numerous other agencies are involved in this investigation including Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, and Burke County Sheriff’s Office. A large number of items were later recovered from the suspected fence’s home and taken tot he Alexander County Sheriff’s Office for identification.
If you are the victim of a recent larceny of items form a carport or garage you are asked to contact the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office and speak with an Investigator to see if any of your items may have been recovered. You may reach the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division by calling 828-632-1111 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm. When you call please be prepared to give investigators as much information about your stolen items as possible including a description, color, make, model and serial number if possible in order to help in the identification process.
Post expires at 4:46pm on Tuesday April 19th, 2016