Randolph County Sheriff Greg Seabolt announced the charges and details of the investigation Friday morning.

Randolph County Sheriff Greg Seabolt announced the charges and details of the investigation Friday morning.

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Randolph County Sheriff Greg Seabolt announced the charges and details of the investigation Friday morning.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that investigators had charged four men in connection to, what the sheriff described as, a catalytic convertor theft ring.

Sheriff Greg Seabolt said during the Friday morning news conference that believed investigators had halted – at least in part – ongoing catalytic converter thefts in the Northeast part of the county. He said reports of thefts were made in Trinity, Archdale, Thomasville and High Point.

Seabolt praised the investigative work that went into the operation, he said. He added that these kinds of investigations are difficult because of how difficult it is to match a stolen converter to its vehicle, and with thieves to the vehicles they have stolen from.

“It takes a lot of money to replace those converters and that’s money a lot of people don’t have,” Seabolt said. “We’re going to continue to work and hopefully this investigation will lead to more.”

According to the sheriff’s office, on March 3, a report was made about a catalytic converter being taken from a business’ parking lot on Cecil Street in High Point. Video surveillance, officials said, captured James Kennedy, Jr., 28, on the property at the time of the theft.

Officials said Kennedy was also seen on camera footage at another High Point business where four converters had been taken between February 27 and March 3.

Officials said that on March 4, a school resource officer at Trinity High School reported that someone tried to steal a converter off of a school vehicle and successfully stole one off a truck affiliated with the bank boosters. Surveillance video shows a U-Haul truck being used in the theft.

And on March 5, officials said, deputies said there had been an attempted larceny at a business in Thomasville in which three or four people left in a U-Haul. Officials said investigators were able track down the lessee and operator of the U-Haul after pictures were taken. The operator, they said, was Ricky Shawn Morris, 38.

Officials said Morris and the U-Haul were found in Sophia and that during a search deputies found methamphetamine, paraphernalia, and burglary tools in the cab of the truck. A stolen trailer was also found at the home. Inside the truck, investigators said, were catalytic converters and other tools.

Officials said a second home, on Eastward Avenue in High Point, was searched after more evidence was found. Officials said there they found more catalytic convertors, suspected methamphetamines and heroin.

Additionally, Christopher Allen Bolling, 37, and Christopher Cole Lawson, 35, as suspects in the converter thefts.

The group faces a combined 70 felonies and 9 misdemeanors related to the alleged drug activity, stolen property, possession of burglary tools and stolen property.

“We made a lot of charges. I think we stopped a huge part of that theft ring up in the northern part of county,” Seabolt said.

Seabolt slammed the accused, calling them “druggies” and saying it would be easier to get a job than continue this kind of activity.

“It would be so much easier for them to go fill out an application and go to work and earn their money instead of having to stay up late, crawling under a greasy automobile, with a tool that they probably stole and then they make you a victim,” he said. ”It doesn’t make sense to me and we’re going to do everything in our power to keep them in jail.”

Stolen catalytic converters, Seabolt said, can be sold for hundreds if not thousands of dollars and are showing to often be tied back to drug use and activity.

A change in state law, he said, allowed his office to charge the group more harshly.

Representing parts of Guilford and Randolph counties, Senator Dave Craven joined investigators and the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey for the announcement. Craven sponsored the now-passed bill. The law increased penalties for stealing converters and for purchasing them.

“This is a huge problem and it affects everyday folks out here, like you and I,” Craven said. Craven said it’s now a felony, if convicted, to have the stolen part. Those charged will face a $1,000 fine.

The law, he said, also seeks to dismantle the marketplace for stolen converters.

“It really cracks down on their ability to make sure they’re not taking in a stolen good,” he said.

Seabolt said additional charges may be coming as his office collaborates with neighboring jurisdictions.

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