By Sarah Nagem
snagem@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Authorities arrested the fourth suspect in a burglary ring Monday night, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Sheriff’s deputies broke up the suspected burglary ring while looking for a runaway teenager and her infant child, officials said.
Dustin Hartsell, 16, of 309 N. Moriah St., Landis, turned himself in to authorities around 10 p.m. Monday, Capt. John Sifford said.
On Sunday, deputies arrested three other teens, including the young mother who had run away: Tina Austin, 16, of 135 Cedar Ridge Lane, China Grove; Timothy Wiseman Jr., 17, of 162 Kitty Lane, China Grove; and Derrion Crawford, 16, of 707 Valley Street, Landis.
About 20 break-ins or thefts have been attributed to the group, and officials expect to file more charges.
The investigation began in the first week of October, when sheriff’s detectives responded to a call from the father of 16-year-old Austin, who had previously run away from her home with her child.
The girl’s father returned to his home at 135 Cedar Ridge Lane one day and discovered Tina Austin had forced her way inside and was stealing property.
When he attempted to stop and detain his daughter, two men wearing ski masks entered his home and threatened Austin’s father.
The men left with Tina Austin and her baby. Detectives began trying to find the teen and identify the men, and a few days later, Austin’s father reported another break-in at his home.
Detectives finally collected information showing that Austin and her male companions were involved in several area crimes, including a series of vehicle break-ins.
On Sunday, detectives searched Wiseman’s China Grove home on Kitty Lane and arrested Austin and Derrion Crawford.
During the search of the residence, detectives discovered numerous items that had been reported stolen from vehicles and homes in the Grace Ridge subdivision, Proctor Drive neighborhood and Salisbury Country Club areas.
Items were also discovered that had been stolen from residential burglaries on Main Street in Landis and Old Beatty Ford Road in China Grove.
The recovered property included laptop computers, vehicle GPS units, MP3 (iPOD) music players, cellular phones, video games, a compound bow, knives, book bags and pocketbooks.
The detectives determined all four suspects had been responsible for crimes throughout Rowan County “and part of an organized criminal effort,” officials said this morning.
Most of the recovered stolen property has been returned to the victims, although detectives are still trying to find the owners of several other items.
Sheriff’s officials expect to file more charges, including possible child abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia, which was also discovered in the search of the Kitty Lane residence.
For more on this story, check out Wednesday’s Salisbury Post or continue to visit www.salisburypost.com.