ELLERBE — One suspect has been caught, but more are still wanted for reportedly stealing from a nearby farm over the weekend.
A person in Richmond County told the sheriff’s office on October 20 that several trucks, trailers, and other pieces of property had been stolen from a farm off of Crawford Road, which is north of Ellerbe.
Video footage of one of the cars entering Maxton on Sunday morning was seen by investigators.
The sheriff’s office said that some of the equipment had been hidden, and they thought that the suspects might come back for the stolen stuff.
There was surveillance set up, and the suspects are said to have come back Sunday night.
The suspects allegedly jumped out of the car and ran when deputies tried to stop it.
Tom Lynn Locklear, 42, of Greensboro was one of the suspects. He was caught after a short foot chase.
It was said that K-9 teams and air support were called in to help look for the other suspects. But the sheriff’s office says that overnight, a car was stolen from the area of Fire Tower Road. It was also said to have been seen in Maxton.
It is said that the sheriff’s office is working with Robeson County police to find and name the other suspects.
Locklear was caught and charged with 13 counts of felony theft, 9 counts of petty theft, 7 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, and 1 count of financial card theft.
The total amount of money that is being held for him is $105,000 secured bail. He is due in court on October 31.
According to records from the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, Locklear got out of prison in June after three months because his probation was revoked in Cumberland County. This was because he was convicted in Hoke County in 2023 of felony theft, felony breaking and entering, and obtaining property by false pretenses.
In that first conviction in 2023, there were also misdemeanor counts of theft, breaking and entering, and breaking and entering a motor car.
Locklear was first found guilty in 2010 in Hoke County of making a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), keeping a place for a controlled substance, and having drug tools.
Locklear was put in jail for a little more than four months after his probation was taken away in Guilford County.
People who are being charged with a crime are thought to be innocent until they are found guilty in court.