Police Arrest Second Suspect Wanted In Connection With Series Of Car Break-Ins
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CMPD says Dalton Hopkins was arrested Friday, and has been charged for his involvement in several Larceny from Motor Vehicle cases.
The investigation is ongoing.
Original Story
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — TheΒ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has apprehended one of two men facing over 40 charges combined in connection with a series of motor vehicle break-ins in the Charlotte area.
Kenneth Meaders, 35, has been charged with 17 counts of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, 11 counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, and two counts of Felony Larceny.
Dalton Hopkins, 18, has outstanding arrest warrants for seven counts of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, five counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, and one count of Felony Larceny.
The CMPD is asking for the publicβs help in locating Dalton Hopkins.
Crimes:
On March 25, 2018, a victim reported her vehicle was broken into near the 6200 block of Thermal Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed one of the windows of the victimβs vehicle and took property belonging to the victim.
On March 25, 2018, a victim reported his vehicle was broken into near the 100 block of Old Bell Road.Β The suspect in this case initially used an unknown pry tool in attempts to gain access into the vehicle.Β The suspect ultimately smashed one of the windows of the victimβs vehicle and rummaged through the vehicle.
On March 26, 2018, a victim reported his vehicle was broken into near the 7300 block of Sardis Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed one of the windows of the victimβs vehicle and rummaged through the vehicle.
On March 28, 2018, a victim reported his vehicle was broken into near the 300 block of Boyce Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed the window of the victimβs vehicle and took property belonging to the victim.Β
On March 28, 2018, two victims reported their respective vehicles were broken into near the 7400 block of Thermal Road.Β The suspect smashed the window of one of the vehicles and took property belonging to the victim.Β The suspect entered the other vehicle via an unlocked door and took property belonging to the victim.
On March 29, 2018, a victim reported her vehicle was broken into near the 6200 block of Thermal Road.Β The suspect in this case entered the victimβs vehicle via an unlocked door and took property belonging to the victim.
On March 30, 2018, a victim reported her vehicle was broken into near the 8700 block of Lawyers Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed the window of the victimβs vehicle and rummaged through the vehicle.
On April 2, 2018, a victim reported his vehicle was broken into near the 100 block of Old Bell Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed a window of the victimβs vehicle and took property belonging to the victim.
On April 5, 2018, two victims reported their respective vehicles were broken into near the 100 block of Old Bell Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed both windows of the victimsβ vehicles and took property belonging to the victims.
On April 6, 2018, a victim reported her vehicle was broken into near the 6200 block of Thermal Road.Β The suspect in this case smashed the window of the victimβs vehicle and took property belonging to the victim.
On April 8, 2018, five victims reported their respective vehicles were broken into near the 100 block of Old Bell Road.Β The suspect in this case entered all five vehicles via a smashed window, and took property belonging to four of the victims.
Investigation:
On April 5, 2018, a K9 officer attempted to stop a suspect vehicle involved in some of the aforementioned cases, but the suspect failed stop and fled.Β The K9 officer did not chase the suspect vehicle, but was able to identify the driver as matching the description of the suspect involved in some of the aforementioned cases.
On April 9, 2018, Independence Division officers were patrolling the area near the 100 block of Old Bell Road when they noticed a vehicle matching the description of one of the suspect vehicles in some of the previous cases.Β Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed.Β The officers did not pursue the vehicle, but were able to identify a passenger of the vehicle as Dalton Hopkins.
On April 11, 2018, Detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departmentβs TRAP Unit were conducting surveillance in attempts to locate Dalton Hopkins for outstanding warrants stemming from the car break-ins at the Charlotte Fire Department.Β Through this surveillance, TRAP Detectives were able to identify Kenneth Meaders as being a second suspect in some of the cases.
On April 12, 2018, Detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departmentβs TRAP Unit collaborated with the Independence Divisionβs Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) officers to conduct surveillance at a location Dalton Hopkins and Kenneth Meaders were known to frequent.
Kenneth Meaders was located and arrested on traffic-related warrants which had been signed on him for his failure to stop for the officers on April 9, 2018.
Through investigative efforts from both the TRAP Unit and Independence Division officers, a combined total of 43 arrest warrants were obtained on Kenneth Meaders and Dalton Hopkins for their involvement in the cases above.
In addition to these 11 cases, Kenneth Meaders was also found to be in possession of stolen property.Β This stolen property is related to 11 cases within six CMPD divisions, and three cases reported by other agencies.
