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Man accused of stealing $3,000 worth of guns, ammo during home break-in

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — A Huntersville man has been charged with breaking into a Lincoln County home earlier this month and stealing more than $3,000 worth of firearms and ammunition.

Deputies were called to the break-in on Stoney Ridge Road in Lincolnton around 4:45 p.m. Jan. 2. The owner reported that a door was kicked open and that five guns and ammunition were stolen.

Four days later, a detective in Charlotte called Lincoln County deputies to tell them that a friend of his called him to run the serial numbers on some guns he recently purchased. Those serial numbers came back as stolen.

The man who bought them told detectives that he did so around 3:45 p.m. Jan. 2. Investigators said the guns were stolen and sold before the victim got home from work that day.

"It’s kind of sad that you can have stolen goods, and get rid of them that quick, depending on where he sold them," neighbor Dewey Stump said.

Police arrested Thomas King, 31, who was already being held in Iredell County, and charged him with felony warrants for breaking and entering, larceny of firearms, possession of stolen goods, obtaining property by false pretenses and possession by a felon of firearms.

Three of the guns and an ammo box were recovered and returned to the victim but authorities have not been able to find the other two guns.

Neighbors were relieved that King is in jail.

"I'm glad that they did come and find ... somebody, and arrest them," Linda Rudisill said.

Rudisill said she saw someone who looked like King and a woman at her neighbor's house on the day of the theft.

"I know he had a cap on and a coat," he said.

She said that she wouldn’t expect something like this on the quiet dead-end road.

"We have never had any incidents like this," she said.

They have determined there won't be any more and put together a system to alert each other.

"We text each other, or message each other and say, 'Hey, there is a strange vehicle. Keep a watch out,'" Rudisill said.

They hope their actions and King's arrest will send a message to thieves looking at their street.

"Maybe they need to think twice," Rudisill said.

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