Lance Martin/Herald Senior Staff Writer

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HALIFAX — This is one place where your goods can end up after they are stolen — in a storage bin at the sheriff’s office.

“This is the first step into an underground fencing network,” Lt. Jay Burch of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.

“It’s a direct result of all the petty shed break-ins, car break-ins and house break-ins.” Statistics show that the crime that law enforcement battles is 80 percent drug related, Burch said.

Lt. Bobby Martin, also of the sheriff’s office, said the items were recovered during a joint investigation with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, leading them to Branch Avenue in the Lincoln Heights community.

The home the officers searched Thursday afternoon was one that has been the target of several complaints of drug activity.

The officers were led to the house through an investigation by Roanoke Rapids authorities trying to recover stolen property.

What the officers found was several thousands of dollars worth of stolen property, which Martin said was traded for narcotics. “The homeowner admitted it,” he said.

The items range from TVs, chainsaws, power tools, drills, toolboxes packed with tools, lawn mowers, DVDs, DVRs and some 40 to 50 PlayStation games. Also found, a big go kart and underwear. “A complete unwrapped bag of underwear,” Martin said.

“There were fragrance candles still in the wrapping in Wal-Mart bags. A chainsaw in the kitchen cabinet, a generator inside the house.” A drug dealer’s terms can be liberal, Burch said.

“In our investigations over the past several months, we’ve come to find cash, stolen property and several EBT cards in various names.” Martin said these terms are not signs of tough economic times.

“They’ll do anything to get that fix. They steal from people who have jobs. It’s not economics. They put themselves out there. There are places to go to get help. The first step is you have to want to help yourself.” Martin said when there are items still in original packaging with store tags on them it sends a warning.

“When there are 40 to 50 Playstation games in which there are three copies of the same thing, something’s not right. These people are getting stolen property and (users) are giving stolen property for their drug of choice. It’s like a pawnbroker.” Burch said he is sure the drug dealers eventually sell the items.

“It was a little house. There’s no reason you need three lawn mowers. No one needs three shop vacs.” Martin said arrests are pending in the case and the sheriff’s office is asking anyone who believes their property may be included to call 583-8051.