This Wednesday morning Bladen County Sheriff’s Office was seen at Michael’s Treasures located at 111 W. Railroad Street in Bladenboro. A U-Haul truck was loaded with an array of DeWalt tools.
On the front glass of the store is a handwritten sign that says, “I don’t buy tools. Don’t ask.”
Donnie Williamson, Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Investigator explained three search warrants are being served simultaneously today after a two-month investigation. Two warrants were served in Bladen County locations and one in Sampson County.
Arrests have been made according to Investigator Williamson. This is an active investigation.
The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement related to this morning’s search warrants.
Bladen County, NC – On Wednesday, March 17, the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office along with Lowes Home Improvement Loss Prevention, Home Depot Loss Prevention, the Bladenboro Police Department, and the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, conducted three search warrants in an ongoing investigation of power tools, hand tools, and other items taken from Lowes and Home Depot stores throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.
Searched during the investigation was a store located at 114 West Railroad Street in Bladenboro, a residence at 13157 NC Hwy 131, Bladenboro, and a residence at 835 Black River Lane, Harrels, in Sampson County. All three locations are owned or rented by Michael Brandon Herring, a 43-year-old of Bladenboro.
Over the past several month’s there have been on-going investigations of the organization suspected of stealing power tools and hand tools from Lowes and Home Depot stores in North Carolina and several surrounding states. The organization is then suspected of selling the stolen tools through the store located in Bladenboro named, Michael’s Treasures and other online auction locations.
Arrested during the search was:
Michael Brandon Herring, and charged with: Fugitive from the State of Virginia, Misdemeanor Larceny, New Hanover County, Felony Larceny Wake County, and Aid and Abett Larceny, Wake County. Bond was set at $36,000.00 secured.
Trevor Chay Tripp, a 21-year-old, of Tar Heel, charged with Fugitive from the State of Virginia, Misdemeanor Larceny, New Hanover County, Shoplifting Concealment, New Hanover County, Felony Larceny, Wake County, Aid, and Abet Larceny, Wake County. Bond was set at $20,000.00 secured.
Seized during the search warrants were multiple items believed to have been stolen out of the Lowe’s and Home Depot stores and offered for sale in the Michaels Treasures location.
This is an ongoing investigation, and authorities anticipate more charges as more evidence and information are gathered. After completion of the inventory of seized tools, there were 3,374 tools at a retail value of $182,237.00.
“We are very pleased with the outstanding cooperation from so many agencies in this investigation, said Sheriff Jim McVicker. “We could not conduct such a major investigation without the cooperation of numerous law enforcement and retail agencies.”
Under the justice system, every person is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The information contained in this publication is not intended to be an expression of opinion regarding guilt.
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