Mooresville Car Break-In Sting Nets 28 Charges For Suspect

MOORESVILLE, NC -- A man responsible for a string of car break-ins and stealing items including cash and guns was arrested over the weekend following an undercover sting that caught him in the act, according to the Iredell Sheriff’s Office.

The rash of break-ins began last month, when the Sheriff’s office received numerous reports that items were stolen from motor vehicles parked in public parking areas along Highway 150 west in Mooresville on Dec 17. A second, similar string of break-ins occurred on Dec. 31.

During the course of the investigation, the Sheriff’s office identified Marquez Antonio Wright as a suspect for at least one of the break-ins, but suspected he might be connected to others.

“Criminal detectives were able to establish a pattern based off witness interviews and other evidence. Evidence indicated detectives were likely looking for the same suspect,” the Sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Detectives were unable to locate Wright and organized a surveillance operation on Jan. 7 at a local boat access and parking lots off Highway 150 in order to catch him in the act.

“During this surveillance operation the suspect, Marquez Antonio Wright, was seen by detectives riding through an access area,” the Sheriff’s office report said. “Wright was kept under surveillance and was seen leaving one location and driving to another. It appeared to the surveillance team Wright was casing the area looking for potential targets.”

After identifying him, deputies arrested Wright on an outstanding warrant and took him into custody. Once he was at the Iredell County Detention Center, he was charged with 28 felony warrants from Iredell, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. Those charges include nine felony counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, five felony counts of larceny of firearm, one count of felony larceny and three misdemeanor larcenies. Detectives say more charges may be forthcoming.

Wright was placed under a $333,500 secured bond.

Photo courtesy of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office