Two Charged With Stealing Nearly $10,000 Worth Of Lawn Equipment On Christmas Eve

LINCOLN COUNTY, NC — Authorities have charged two suspects in connection to nearly $10,000 worth of equipment that was stolen around Christmas Eve.

The victim reported the crime on January 3rd after deputies say he returned from vacation and found his Prince Drive home, building and vehicle had been broken into. The building contained a number of items used for his lawn care business, officials say.

A neighbor reportedly told detectives that two people in a van pulled into the driveway on Christmas Eve and began loading up equipment. The neighbor did not report anything, officials say, because the van had been there before.

Using that information, detectives say they were able to identify a former employee of the victim, 27-year-old Dustin Mullinax, of High Shoals, as a possible suspect. On January 6th, investigators searched Mullinax’s home and say they found several of the stolen items.

Others items had already been pawned at stores throughout Gaston County.

A second suspect, 28-year-old Christopher Bell, of Dallas, was also identified as a suspect. Deputies say they are still trying to locate him.

The suspects reportedly stole two 60 inch cut zero turn mowers, two brush cutters, two backpack blowers, an air compressor and several other items including a laptop and roughly $200 in change. The lawn equipment was valued at more than $9,000, officials say.

All of the stolen property has been recovered, according to the LCSO, except for a zero turn mower and utility trailer.

Mullinax and Bell are each charged with two felony counts of Breaking and Entering a Building, Larceny after Breaking and Entering, Conspiracy, Possession of Stolen Goods, and one misdemeanor count of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle and Larceny.

The investigation is ongoing.