BCSO solves multiple car thefts

A Charlotte man has been arrested and charged with the theft of two vehicles in Lewiston Woodville.

Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hasun Naz’iear Overton, 19, of Charlotte, who was wanted in Bertie County.

The incidents occurred May 2 and May 30, both in Lewiston Woodville.

The first incident happened at approximately 4:50 a.m. on May 2 at the Duck Thru in Lewiston Woodville.

According to the sheriff, the owner of the vehicle went into the store and found the vehicle missing when he returned. The vehicle was located in Northampton County six days later.

The second vehicle was taken from the Tobacco Shop in Lewiston Woodville at approximately 7:25 p.m. on May 30.

The sheriff indicated the owner of the car went inside the store and found the vehicle gone when he returned. That vehicle was located in Gaffney, S.C. on May 31 when the driver fled from law enforcement.

Sheriff Ruffin said surveillance cameras aided in the investigation and Overton used the bank card of one of the victims.

“Investigators with the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office were able to link Overton to both vehicle thefts,” Sheriff Ruffin said.

Overton reportedly has ties in Bertie and Northampton counties and will return for a court date soon. He is still in custody in Mecklenburg County.

That was the second case involving a stolen vehicle solved by the sheriff’s office in the last few days.

On June 18, a vehicle was stolen from Commerce Street in Aulander. It was located in Vineland, New Jersey on July 2 and a woman was arrested in connection with the theft.

Sheriff Ruffin said his deputies were dispatched to Commerce Street in Aulander on June 28 and, after arriving, were told the victim was showing a piece of rental property to a female and that while he was not paying attention, the female stole his van.

Bertie County Investigators entered the van into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and on July 2, investigators with the sheriff’s office received a hit from the Vineland Police Department that the vehicle had been located in Vineland, New Jersey.

The van was reportedly being operated by Artia Slocum with a Vineland address. Police indicated she gave a false name to officers when she was stopped, but they were able to confirm her identity and took her into custody.

Sheriff Ruffin said “through questioning Slocum, officers advised that Slocum admitted that she stole the van in North Carolina.”

Slocum was charged in New Jersey and will face additional charges in Bertie County.

As of press time, investigators didn’t know if Slocum had ties to Bertie County.