On September 14, 2014, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a Breaking and Entering and Larceny from a residence on Highway 306 South in Aurora, NC. Deputies responded to the scene and learned numerous power tools had been stolen. On September 15th, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of Larceny and Damage to Property at Tideland EMC’s Edward Substation on Mary’s Chapel Church Road in Edward. On September 23rd, another report of Larceny and Damage to Property was reported by Duke Energy on Highway 33 East in Aurora. The fence was cut and the suspects removed copper grounding wires and brass clamps at both electrical sites. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation and collected evidence.
On October 6th, Investigator Jeremy Landeck applied for and obtained warrants charging Thomas Gregory Long, age 35 of Duck Pond Road in New Bern with three counts of Felony Injuring Utility Wires/Fixures, three counts of Felony First Degree Trespassing of an Infrastructure, two counts of Felony Larceny, three counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense, two counts of Unlawful Transport/Possess Copper, and Misdemeanor Larceny. On October 7th, Investigator Landeck applied for and obtained warrants charging April Auberg, age 43 of Wildlife Road in New Bern with three counts of Felony Injuring Utility Wires/Fixures, three counts of Felony First Degree Trespassing of an Infrastructure, two counts of Felony Larceny, three counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense, two counts of Unlawful Transport/Possess Copper, and Misdemeanor Larceny.
Long and Auberg were served with the warrants while incarcerated in the Pamlico County Detention Center on unrelated charges. Both were held under an additional $20,000.00 secured bond issued by a Pamlico County Magistrate.
While continuing the investigation on October 9th, Inv. Landeck learned of an additional Breaking and Entering that occurred at a residence on Sparrow Road in Aurora. Landeck made contact with the owner of the residence who confirmed that a break-in had occurred. On October 14th, Inv. Landeck applied and obtained additional warrants charging Thomas Long and April Auberg with two counts each of Felony Breaking and Entering, two counts each of Larceny After B&E, and one count each of Injury to Personal Property. Landeck also obtained warrants charging Kenneth John Hayes, age 42 of Highway 306 South in Aurora with three counts of Felony Injuring Utility Wires/Fixures, three counts of Felony First Degree Trespassing of an Infrastructure, two counts of Felony Larceny, three counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense, Felony Breaking and Entering, Larceny After B&E, two counts of Unlawful Transport/Possess Copper, and Misdemeanor Larceny.
Hayes was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on October 15th and transported to the Magistrate’s Office where he was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $15,000.00 secured bond. Long and Auberg were served with the additional warrants. Long was held on an additional $10,000.00 secured bond while Auberg was held on an additional $1,000.00 secured bond.
