A North Carolina burglary investigation began with a homeowner seeing two men leaving the property with a wagon full of tools after a shed had been broken into, authorities said.
The report came from Blackwelder Road in Iredell County on June 8. According to WHKY, deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office responded to a breaking and entering in progress after the homeowner reported seeing the men leaving the property.
Investigators said tools had been stolen from the shed. When the suspects were confronted, one allegedly threatened the homeowner with a knife before both men fled.
The case connects directly to a common weak spot on residential properties: sheds, detached buildings, and tool storage. Lawn equipment, power tools, hand tools, batteries, and shop gear can be easy to overlook until a break-in turns them into the center of a property-crime investigation.
The Homeowner Reported a Shed Break-In
The homeowner told deputies the men were leaving with a wagon containing stolen tools after the shed was broken into. Iredell Free News reported that the call brought deputies and detectives to the Blackwelder Road area, where witness statements and investigative work helped identify the suspects.
The sheriff’s office later identified the men as Donald Charles Lawson Jr., 20, and Jesse John Anderson, 24, both of Statesville. The charges remain allegations, not convictions.
Deputies Later Found Both Suspects Nearby
Authorities said Lawson later returned to the area and was taken into custody. During the arrest, deputies allegedly found him in possession of methamphetamine.
Anderson was later located nearby and taken into custody without incident, according to local reports. The investigation then expanded beyond the June 8 call.
Detectives Linked the Case to Other Break-Ins
Detectives said both men were linked to multiple burglaries and thefts reported in the Blackwelder Road community throughout April. Lawson was charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, attempted second-degree burglary, three counts of larceny after breaking and entering, possession of methamphetamine, assault with a deadly weapon, communicating threats, and misdemeanor larceny. He received a $150,000 secured bond.
Anderson was charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, attempted second-degree burglary, three counts of larceny after breaking and entering, and misdemeanor larceny. He received a $75,000 secured bond.
For homeowners, the Blackwelder Road case is a reminder to treat sheds and detached buildings as part of the home’s security plan. Tools and lawn equipment should be locked, photographed, and documented before a break-in turns missing gear into a police report.