Lincoln County detectives are investigating a string of recent vehicle break-ins in the Startown area.

Reports say thieves have made off with wallets and purses containing money, credit cards, and personal items from cars at church parking lots and in residential areas since Sunday.

Most of the vehicles targeted were unlocked according to officials.

Authorities say thieves have a tendency to break into unlocked vehicles because they want to get in and out of the area as quick as possible.

At one of the break-in locations, a suspicious vehicle described as a dark-colored SUV with New York license plates was seen.

In break-ins reported today in Lincoln County, thieves made off with firearms and laptop computers while the vehicles were parked at separate residences.

Officers remind you to ‘lock it or lose it’- always lock your vehicle.

Most of the time, this will deter a thief.

Don’t leave valuables in plain view, and do not leave personal identification in your car that could be used later to commit identity theft.

Anyone having information about the Lincoln break ins should call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-735-8202.

McDowell County authorities continue their search for a missing Old Fort man.

40-year-old Joseph Mark Loftis of Lavender Road was reported missing by family members on Thanksgiving Day.

Since that time, reports say investigators have exhausted multiple leads and now need the public’s help in locating him.

Loftis is a white male, is 6 feet 5 inches tall, and has brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone having information about his whereabouts should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2235.

Two Connelly Springs men were arrested in Lincoln County last Friday following a reported argument involving a shot being fired into an occupied vehicle.

30-year-old Christopher Lee Saylor of Kinglet Road was charged with discharging a weapon into an occupied moving vehicle; while 20-year-old Christian Thomas Carpenter of Rocky Ridge Road was charged with assault causing serious bodily injury.

Reports say Lincoln officers located a male subject, Rhyan Keith Arnett of Lawndale with head and facial injuries in a parking lot along NC Highway 18.

Deputies determined that individuals inside two separate vehicles had arrived at the parking lot where the altercation took place.

One of the vehicles reportedly fled the scene and was located at a Burke County residence by Lincoln and Burke deputies.

Saylor and Carpenter were both jailed, and placed under a 10-thousand dollar secured bond each.

Citizens are invited to celebrate the opening of the new Burke County Jail & Magistrates Office Thursday morning at 10:30. Event parking will be at the Fiddler's Run Shopping Center, 118 Fiddler's Run Boulevard, Morganton. Greenway Transportation will provide shuttle service to and from the event.

Railroad crossing maintenance will take place today through Saturday for Robinson Street SE, Rodoret Street, Praley Street, Main Street in Drexel, Burke Drive and Hogan Street. The Road will only be closed at the Railroad Crossing. The Road will be open up to the crossing in both directions so that motorists will have access. Norfolk Southern Railway will be performing maintenance on the crossing.

A second person charged in the November 12^th break-in at a Lincoln County business has been arrested. 51-year-old Londie Allan Woods of Rollins Drive, Catawba, was arrested Thursday in connection with the break-in at Alternative Health on North Highway 16 Business where about $8,400 worth of CBD Hemp was stolen. Woods and Roy Lee Blue, Jr. are charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods.

A Hickory man is charged with indecent liberties with a minor.

34-year-old John Kevin Pace of 412 Dogwood Drive was issued a 25-thousand-dollar secured bond and confined at the Burke Catawba Detention facility.

A news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office states the arrest follows an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division into the alleged crime.

According to the release, Pace admitted to inappropriate contact with a minor during an interview by authorities.

His first court appearance is today.

A couple who went missing from Lincoln County earlier this week has been located.

Reports say Lenoir Police found 81-year-old Charles William Whitener and his wife 80-year-old Maxine Whitener at the Comfort Inn in Lenoir around 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Authorities report both are in good condition, and a family member went to Lenoir to pick them up.

A Silver Alert had been issued Monday after they were reported missing from the son’s residence on Beth Haven Church Road in Denver.

A Nebo man with outstanding warrants also faces a meth charge. Just after 1:20 a.m. on October 25^th, a McDowell deputy was on Wildlife Road in Nebo when he passed a truck off the side of the road with a man lying near it. The man, identified as 27-year-old Benjamin Franklin Cody Perkins of Ramsey Drive, had three outstanding warrants for his arrest. A search of Perkins turned up .8 gram of methamphetamine.

City of Lenoir Fire Chief recognizes an Officer and Deputy for lifesaving efforts. Tuesday night, Hair presented plaques of appreciation to Lenoir Police Department Corporal Joe Hamrick and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Exon. The lifesaving efforts involved an early morning house fire on November 16^th on Bradford Mountain Road.

Scammers identifying themselves as Lieutenant Westbrook are calling residents advising that the resident has missed jury duty and to purchase a VISA debit card, provide the scammer with the debit card number and mail to 175 Government Drive, Morganton which is not a legitimate address. After submitting a sum of money, they are directed to meet with Judge Erwin. According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, this is a SCAM. Do not send any money in this situation. You would never be directed to send money in this manner for missing jury duty.

Two area men face prison time after sentencing earlier this week. 48-year-old Renous Alan Hughes of Hickory was given an active prison sentence of six to nine years Monday, during Catawba County Superior Court. He pleaded guilty to flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, felony larceny and admitted his status as an habitual felon. 38-year-old Michael Scott Henderson of Hiddenite, will spend five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty attempted breaking and entering, attempted larceny after breaking and entering, and admitting his habitual status during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Two Morganton men now face numerous drug-related charges following a traffic stop in Iredell County last week.

Reports say deputies with the Interstate Criminal Enforcement team stopped the pair in a BMW on Interstate 40 west near mile marker 154 last Tuesday.

23-year-old Cedric James Brown and 24-year-old Chad Michael Sampson were each arrested on felony charges of trafficking cocaine by possession, trafficking cocaine by transport, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana, according to reports.

The two also face several misdemeanor drug charges.

During the traffic stop, reports say the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana prompting a search of the vehicle.

Officers located 28-point-5 grams of cocaine, 72-point-5 grams of marijuana, and six Xanax pills.

Brown is being held on a 300-thousand dollar secured bond, while Sampson received a 304-thousand dollar bond.

Both men are scheduled for a court appearance in Iredell County December 18^th.

A police pursuit in McDowell County Sunday leads to the arrest of a Nebo man on a string of charges.

The man identified as 39-year-old Joshua Lee Mosteller was stopped by an officer on Old Highway 70 East for traffic violations.

Reports state Mosteller refused to comply with authorities and sped from the scene, attempting to ram his vehicle into the McDowell patrol car.

Deputies gave pursuit while Mosteller stopped on Ramsey Road and fled from the car on foot onto a wooded area.

After a short chase, Mosteller was apprehended by authorities.

Officers found meth and marijuana in his possession.

Aside from drug charges, Mosteller was charged with fleeing to elude arrest, speeding, reckless driving to endanger, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting a public officer.

Reports say he was treated at a hospital for lacerations and released.

Catawba County officers nab a man wanted in a Lincoln County break-in and robbery last month.

Reports say 31-year-old Roy Lee Blue of 1781 Rollins Drive Catawba is charged in the break-in at Alternative Health in eastern Lincoln County where 84-hundred dollars worth of CBD product was stolen.

Blue is reportedly out of jail now on a 6-thousand dollar secured bond while officers are still looking for the second suspect; already identified and charged.

Blue and the second suspect are both charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods.

Police are looking for 51-year-old Londie Allan Woods also of Catawba in connection with the theft.

  

Anyone with information about Woods whereabouts should call the Lincoln Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050.

Officials in Iredell County are looking for a suspect involved in a deadly hit-and-run accident in Statesville on Thanksgiving.

30-year-old Matthew Franklin Redden was riding a bicycle east on US 64 near Barry Oak Road, when reports say he was struck behind by a pickup truck, knocked into on-coming traffic and was then struck by an SUV.

Reports say Redden was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Highway Patrol is searching for the pickup, described as a dark-colored 1994 to 2002 Dodge Ram with a loud exhaust and a lift.

The truck may have damage to the front side and headlight area.

Anyone with information regarding the accident is urged to call 911 or the Highway Patrol at 466-5500.

The Governor has declared this as Winter Weather Preparedness Week and is encouraging North Carolinians to plan and prepare now.

Cooper urges residents to monitor changing weather conditions by listening to local media and paying close attention to winter weather advisories.

To help ensure you are ready for winter weather, state emergency management officials urge you to always keep at least a three day supply of non perishable food on hand, keep fresh batteries for radios and flashlights, and dress warmly in layers.

Remember to properly vent kerosene heaters and keep electric generators outside.

And bring your pets inside when temperatures drop below freezing.

For more information on how to prepare for winter weather, visit ready-nc-dot org online.

McDowell County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a missing Old Fort man. 40-year-old Joseph Mark Loftis, most recently of Lavender Road, was reported missing on Thanksgiving Day. He is a white male, 6 feet 5 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Loftis is asked to call Detective Robert Watson  at 652-2237.

The October unemployment rate for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area was 3.5 %, with Asheville’s rate at 2.8%, which was the lowest metro rate in the state. Area county rates include Alexander 3.2%, Avery 3.3%, Burke 3.5%, Caldwell 3.8%, Catawba 3.4%, and McDowell 4.3%. Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate for October in the state at 2.7% while Hyde County had the highest at 8.8%, according to figures released last week by the N.C.Department of Commerce.

Maintenance will take place this week at a railroad crossing for Texas Fish Camp Road, Berea Church Road, Connelly Church Street and Coldwater Street. According to a news release, the road will only be closed at the Railroad Crossing. Despite the closure, the Road will be open up to the crossing in both directions so that motorists will have access. Norfolk Southern Railway will be performing maintenance on the crossing and the work is scheduled through Sunday