Police have charged a Shelby man after a string of break-ins in a western Stanley neighborhood. Police allege Bradley Charles Gaither, 25, of 110 Price Place, broke into four homes between Wednesday and Thursday, taking more than $4,000 worth of items.
He is charged with four counts of breaking and entering and three counts of larceny after breaking and entering. Police allege Gaither targeted homes on Grace Drive and Joseph Anton Circle in Stanley. Four homes on those roads, three on Joseph Anton and one on Grace Drive, were broken into.
According to police, the homes were broken into through busted windows and glass on the doors.
According to arrest records, one woman was at home at the time of the break-in. He had a hammer wedged in between the door to keep it open.
According to arrest records, the woman was able to identify Gaither to police. Stolen from the homes was $4,350 worth of items. Police allege Gaither took several weapons, several laptops, iPods and an Xbox from the homes. Karen Brandenburg, who lives two doors down from the home robbed on Grace Drive, said she saw a man wandering suspiciously around the neighborhood on Thursday.
Bradenburg was at home alone when she spotted the man from her window.
“I watch everything. I always keep a lookout for my neighbors, because you never know in this day in age,” she said. “I just had a feeling because I’d never seen him before.”
Bradenburg pondered calling police, but didn’t. Now she wishes she would have.
“Not but a few hours later, police all swarmed in,” she said. Officers told her to never hesitate to call. And that’s her message to others now. “I mean that’s what they’re there for,” she said.
According to arrest records, Gaither was found in possession of the items. He was arrested Thursday afternoon and jailed on a $25,000 secured bond. In his first appearance in court on Friday, Gaither told Judge Richard Abernethy he worked two jobs.
Abernethy appointed Gaither a public defender and upheld his bond.
You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.