Police investigate string of vehicle battery thefts

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Gaston County authorities are investigating the thefts of vehicle batteries and business owners hope the culprits are caught soon.
 
At the end of the day, employees at Cape Fear Trucking must now remove the batteries in all of the company trucks.
 
It's a new policy since someone stole 10 batteries from their trucks last week.
 
"It's devastating when they take these batteries," said Heath Branch, an operator.

Branch said new batteries are $100 each and insurance doesn't pay to replace them.
 
It's also costs valuable time.
 
"That was a good half a day's worth of work gone," Branch said.
 
Police believe the same thief or thieves stole batteries from three other businesses on Dallas-Cherryville Highway the same night.
 
Thieves take the batteries to scrap yards to get money for the lead inside.
 
Police said they are targeting large vehicles that use more than one battery.
 
"It gives them the opportunity to commit a crime and get more for their money," said Sgt. Chris Reynolds with the Gaston County Police Department.
 
In January, 15 batteries were stolen from truck at business near McAdenville and took batteries from three buses at one church near Crowders Mountain."
 
Police have suspects in the thefts from January.
 
They believe the driver of a car showed in surveillance footage stole the batteries on Dallas-Cherryville Highway last week.
 
A security camera at one of the businesses captured the car with a missing hubcap on the front driver's side.
 
Police want help finding the car and the driver.
 
"You caused a lot of trouble and I hope you get caught," Branch said.

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