Sheriff: 2 arrested after photographed while stealing trail cameras

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — A thief was caught on camera stealing two trail cameras after the equipment continued to email photos of the man back to the owner.

Following a news release on the camera theft that was reported by local and social media, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office received more than 30 calls from the public identifying the suspects in the case. 

Deputies said the suspects brought the stolen cameras to the Sheriff's Office and were interviewed by detectives Wednesday night.

Billy Ray Green Jr., 29, of Lincolnton, and Scottie Andrew Brooks, 33, of Lincolnton, were charged with one count each of misdemeanor Larceny and misdemeanor Possession of Stolen Goods. 

They reported to the Sheriff's Office Thursday morning and were taken before a magistrate where they each were released on a $1,000 unsecured bond.
 
The cameras, worth $850, were cablelocked to a tree on the back of the owner's property on Highway 73, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
 
The cameras were reported stolen on Dec. 31.
 
The owner noticed they were gone when he received a photograph in his email of a man  taking the camera by breaking the case off the lock.
 
That was when the owner started to get a flow of photographs, authorities said.

WSOC