Four men wanted in Valley theft ring

ROANOKE RAPIDS — Roanoke Rapids Police detectives and Halifax County Sheriff’s Office investigators believe they have broken a theft ring where dirt bikes and other items were stolen over a two-month period.

Capt. Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department confirmed the break in the cases yesterday. The heists included motocross bikes belonging to local youths — an aspiring racer and an enthusiast — featured in a Daily Herald story last week.

Investigators are looking for four people who have warrants outstanding for their arrests in a series of break-ins where approximately $25,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, possibly to resale on the street, Jackson said.

Warrants have been filed for the arrests of Tyrone Hawkins, Darius Jamel Coleman, Timothy David Harris and Carlos Demetrius Crawford.

Hawkins, 25, of Creekside Court, faces four counts of felony possession of stolen goods.

Coleman, 21, of West 1st Street, Weldon, faces four counts of felony conspiracy, three counts of felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony larceny and three counts  possession of stolen goods.

Harris, 21, of the 1000 block of Rapids Street, faces four counts of felony conspiracy, one count of possession of stolen goods, three counts of breaking, entering and larceny, two counts of felony larceny and two counts of possession of stolen goods.

Crawford, 22, of the 400 block of Madison Street, faces one count of felony conspiracy, two counts felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony larceny and two counts of felony possession of stolen goods.

A break in the case came Thursday when the police department was doing saturation patrols and stopped one of the suspects, who turned out to be Hawkins, on a scooter, which ended up being reported stolen from the Ringwood area.

A search of Hawkins’ apartment led officers to find stolen property including a chopped up pocket rocket motorcycle. That led officers to charge him with one count of felony breaking and entering, two counts of larceny after breaking and entering and two counts of aid and abet larceny.

Jackson said, however, Hawkins found someone to bail him out on $5,000 bond. As Hawkins was out on bond officers continued to investigate and learned who the other participants were.

“What they would do is plan and orchestrate the break-ins,” Jackson said. “They particularly liked dirt bikes.”

The investigation led police and sheriff’s office detectives to recover one of the dirt bikes belonging to Bubby Weber, a 10-year old motocross racer, and Bradley Major, a 15-year old dirt bike enthusiast.

Some 10 motorcycles, dirt bikes and four-wheelers were stolen in the thefts. Bikes, however, were only part of the loot, Jackson said.

Fishing rods, tools, a new dishwasher and stove and amps were taken. One of the more unusual items taken was a computer used at garages to do DMV inspections.

About a dozen victims were involved, Jackson said, victims whose property was surveyed during the day so the suspects could come back at night and steal items by using bolt cutters to break locks off sheds. “When they went out they were prepared to steal,” Jackson said. “One witness said they wore black toboggans, black T-shirts and black jeans with gloves on.”

Jackson said the case couldn’t be solved without the help of the sheriff’s office. “What was coming into the city we shared with the county and what was coming into the county they shared with us.”

Lt. Bobby Martin of the sheriff’s office said, “I’m glad our agencies could combine forces and find out what’s going on with this ring. I hate it some of the motorcycles were not recovered before the ring was broken up. It shows how the cooperation between the agencies helps in the long run.”

The suspects are thought to hang out in Roanoke Rapids, particularly in the area of Vance Street.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 533-2821, the sheriff’s office at 583-8051 or Halifax County Crimestoppers at 583-4444.