Men Nabbed In 6-Year String Of Thefts From Area Lowe's Stores

MOORESVILLE, NC — A Lincoln County man along with two suspects from Mooresville were arrested and charged in a shoplifting attempt late last month at Lowe's after a detective with the Iredell County Sheriff's Office witnessed and intervened in the incident.

Two of the suspects were wanted in a string of thefts at Lowe's stores that stretch six years, according to authorities.

According to a statement issued by the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, the April 25 incident was witnessed by Iredell County Sheriff's Office detective Chris Lamberth, who was at the Lowe's store located at 509 River Highway while he was off-duty.

"Detective Lamberth witnessed an employee actively attempting to stop a man who was pushing a cart with electrical wire, and other items into the parking lot," ICSO said. "Detective Lamberth recovered the stolen inventory without incident and returned it to the store."

Before the suspect fled the scene, Lamberth was able to record the vehicle information and after conferring with loss prevention officers with Lowe's Home Improvement, learned the suspect was wanted in numerous other thefts.

The suspect was identified as Kody Ryan Wells, 35, of Denver, North Carolina, who was assisted by Ryan Wade Yoder, 43, of Mooresville, who was named as an accomplice, ICSO said.

"Lamberth determined Wells and Yoder had committed numerous larcenies from several Lowe’s stores spanning a six- year period," the sheriff's office said.

The vehicle used in the theft, identified as a black Ford Explorer, is owned by Jessica Nicole Hawkins, 39, who lives in the same residence as Yoder.

"Hawkins allowed Wells and Yoder to use her black Ford Explorer to commit the larcenies," ICSO said.

When the detective attempted to locate Hawkins and Yoder at their home on Mayhew Park Lane in Mooresville, he spotted numerous items previously reported stolen from Lowes located in their yard.

Search warrants were obtained, which led authorities to retrieve more than $8,000 in stolen goods. Arrest warrants were issued for Wells, Yoder and Hawkins, and they were arrested and taken into custody in Mecklenburg County on May 7.