Stolen Checkbook Leads To Laundry List Of Charges For Pair

CHARLOTTE, NC -- An alert bank teller in Pineville and quick response from police landed a couple in jail as they tried to cash a stolen check Tuesday.

The case stands as a reminder to secure valuables, police said: “The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department would like to remind the public to lock their vehicles and to not leave valuables including wallets, purses, checkbooks and firearms in them when they are parked.”

The incident unfolded in the State Employees Credit Union located at 9007 Pineville-Matthews Road when employees contacted the fraud victim to notify her there was an attempt to cash a check from her account. After the victim told the bank the check was fraudulent, she found her checkbook and other items had been stolen from her car parked outside her Charlotte home the night before.

While the suspects were in the bank, SECU called Pineville Police. Officers immediately responded and took the pair into custody, discovering they were still in possession of stolen property.

After an interview with detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Pineville Police Department, the two confessed and were arrested.

Christian North has been charged with larceny from an auto, misdemeanor larceny, possession of stolen property and possession of schedule IV narcotics. He was also charged with assault inflicting serious injury following an incident involving Kaitlyn Austin, who CMPD says North assaulted Oct. 22.

Austin was charged with possession of stolen property and uttering forged instruments.

Photos courtesy of CMPD