ASHEBORO, N.C. — A recent string of vehicle thefts has captured headlines, but law enforcement data shows that overall car thefts in Randolph County are actually trending downward after spiking late last year.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Asheboro Police Department have responded to 111 vehicle thefts combined over the past six months, according to data provided to Randolph News Now. Thefts peaked between December 2021 and January 2022 but have declined since then.
Randleman Police Department reported no vehicle thefts in 2022, with only four larceny reports from 2021, according to Capt. Sexton.
Despite the downward trend, several high-profile theft cases have occurred in March:
Vehicle thefts
On March 3, deputies arrested Thomas Brandon Simms and Tori Ladena Henderson after locating a stolen vehicle on U.S. Highway 311 in Sophia. Both were charged with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle and drug charges.
On March 5, Wanda Sheree Carter arrived at a residence in Franklinville in a stolen vehicle and assaulted the occupant, according to a sheriff’s report. She was arrested and charged with felony possession of a stolen firearm, felony possession of a firearm by a felon and misdemeanor possession of stolen goods.
Lucas Matthews Jennings was arrested March 15 after police discovered he was driving a vehicle reported stolen out of Greensboro. He was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Asheboro Police recovered a stolen vehicle March 18 at a traffic stop on North Fayetteville Street.
Prevention tips
The FBI reported 721,885 vehicle thefts nationwide in 2019, with nearly half attributed to driver error, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Authorities recommend not leaving keys in vehicles, closing and locking all doors and windows, parking in well-lit areas and never leaving valuables visible inside vehicles.
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