By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Detectives have obtained arrest warrants for a Mocksville man accused of selling stolen tools to a Rowan County pawn shop.
According to a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office report, Investigator Teresa Haupt noticed 12 Dewalt power tools had been sold to Rowan Gun and Pawn near Rockwell and started making calls.
Haupt quickly located the seller, 42-year-old Dennis Dale Gray II, in the Rockingham County jail, charged with larceny, the report said.
Deputies said Gray, of Woodward Road, was picked up by Reidsville Police on charges from Winston-Salem and was accused of stealing from Lowe’s Home Improvement stores.
Haupt then spoke to the loss prevention department at Lowe’s in Salisbury.
An employee told Haupt that Gray stole more than $17,000 in property since June 29, according to the report.
The store reported the thefts to Salisbury Police, but were told they would need to get warrants themselves because the thefts were misdemeanors, the report said.
Salisbury Police Capt. Shelia Lingle said reports were filed with the department, but there was a “miscommunication” between officers and Lowe’s loss prevention division.
“We do not require them to get their own warrants,” Lingle said. “That’s a miscommunication between everyone obviously.”
Haupt reported she obtained a list of thefts from the Lowe’s in Salisbury and matched them with items sold at Rowan Gun and Pawn.
The stolen tools were valued at about $4,800, the report said.
Gray is expected to be charged with four counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the thefts.
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.