Feb
4 members of Wilkes family arrested in thefts
By Donna Swicegood
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
STATESVILLE
Four family members are all in custody in Iredell County on theft charges tied to break-ins that stretch from Watauga to Forsyth counties.
A Wilkes County man, his wife, son and daughter were being held on a variety of breaking and entering and larceny charges after deputies recovered a truckload of merchandise stolen from a local hardware store early Monday.
Authorities then got a warrant to search the family’s home near Millers Creek in Wilkes County, which revealed a couple of safes, a complete living-room set and hundreds of boxes bearing the eBay logo.
Jerry Randall Greene, 45; his wife, Sheila Higgins Greene, 44; son, Jerry Randall Greene III, 22; and daughter, Ashley Greene, 24, have each been charged with breaking and entering, and larceny.
Investigators said that charges against others could be filed.
Capt. Darren Campbell of the sheriff’s office said that some of the items recovered have been linked to break-ins in Forsyth, Davie and Watauga counties, Huntersville and Mooresville.
Campbell said that the eBay boxes may lead to a more extensive operation.
“We’re getting subpoenas for eBay records,” said Iredell County Sheriff Phil Redmond. “They would break in and steal stuff and sell the items on eBay and have them shipped from their homes. This wasn’t a fly-by-night operation.”
Campbell said that a torch had been used to try to cut open safes found in the home.
Investigators are trying to link the stolen goods to specific break-ins, Redmond said.
He said that detectives need help the public’s help to identify some of the items, including the leather sofa, love seat and tables.
All four members of the Greene family were being held in the Iredell County Detention Center, with bond set at $10,000 each.
■ Donna Swicegood is a reporter for the Statesville Record & Landmark.
