Authorities in Marion, N.C., are attempting to recover $150,000 in property they claim was stolen by a self-storage operator from the facilitys tenants and sold to unsuspecting buyers for a profit. Benjamin Raymer, 29, the facility owners son and the person responsible for running the storage business, was charged with three felony counts each of breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering, and two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense.
On Dec. 3, a customer of Fort Knox Storage on U.S. 70 West reported that $15,000 worth of goods was stolen from her rented storage unit. Three days later, another customer reported a similarly valued theft. After receiving two more break-in calls for Fort Knox on Dec. 9, police went to the facility to discover yet a fifth unit had been compromised, with $100,000 in furniture stolen.
Detectives began finding some of the stolen property in the possession of Raymers acquaintances, and investigation revealed that Raymer, with the help of accomplice Jerry Davis, 40, had broken into the units and sold it during a weeklong sale at the storage site. Buyers were told the items were from units on which rent had not been paid.
Police have located some of the property but are asking that anyone who purchased items from Fort Knox during the week of Nov. 9 call the McDowell County Sheriffs Office.
Detectives said that when they searched Davis property for stolen goods, they also found methamphetamine. Davis was charged with breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and larceny after breaking and entering, and one felony count each of maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine.
Sources:
- The McDowell News: 150,000 in stolen property peddled
