Major home burglary ring cracked

Homes targeted in 11 N.C. counties

By: McClatchy Tribune Wire Service | Independent Tribune
Published: August 18, 2009

Local and federal law authorities say they have cracked what they call one of the largest organized home burglary rings in North Carolina history.

The ring operated in Mecklenburg and 11 other Carolinas counties, breaking into hundreds of homes over the past several years.

Nine people have been indicted in the case, and authorities have called a news conference for Thursday afternoon to disclose details of the case.

The ring, operated mostly by members who had multiple felony convictions, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of personal property, including 125 firearms, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

ATF officials say it was a highly sophisiticated ring, using fixed and mobile surveillance equipment. The ring operated in teams, with leaders identifying homes that would be burglarized.

The ring targeted homes in Mecklenburg, Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Stanly and Union counties in North Carolina, and York and Marlboro counties in South Carolina.

A spokesman for the ATF, Earl Woodham, declined further comment Monday, saying additional details would be released at Thursday's news conference.

According to local and federal authorities, the effort to break up the ring involved 11 law enforcement agencies and the ATF.