ELLERBE — One suspect has been apprehended and others are still wanted for allegedly stealing from a local farm over the weekend.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, a resident reported Sunday, Oct. 20 that several trucks, trailers and other equipment had been stolen from a farm off of Crawford Road, north of Ellerbe.
Investigators say one of the vehicles was seen on video entering Maxton Sunday morning.
The sheriff’s office said some of the equipment was found hidden and investigators believed the suspects might return for the stolen stash.
Surveillance was set up and the suspects reportedly came back Sunday night.
When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects reportedly jumped out and ran.
One of the suspects, 42-year-old Tommy Lynn Locklear, of Greensboro, was caught after a short pursuit on foot.
K-9 teams and air support were reportedly called in to assist with the search of the other suspects. However, the sheriff’s office says a vehicle was stolen from the area of Fire Tower Road overnight. That vehicle was also reportedly spotted in Maxton.
The sheriff’s office is reportedly working with law enforcement in Robeson County to identify and find the other suspects.
Locklear was arrested and charged with: 13 counts of felony larceny; nine counts of misdemeanor larceny; seven counts of larceny of a motor vehicle; and one count of financial card theft.
He is being held on a combined $105,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 31.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Locklear was released from prison in June after serving three months when his probation was revoked in Cumberland County from a 2023 conviction in Hoke County on charges of obtaining property by false pretenses, felony larceny, and felony breaking and entering.
That initial 2023 conviction also included misdemeanor counts larceny and breaking and entering, as well as breaking and entering a motor vehicle.
Locklear was first convicted in 2010 of manufacturing a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), maintaining a place for a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia in Hoke County.
His probation was revoked in Guilford County and Locklear was imprisoned for a little more than four months.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
