Five teens accused of breaking into Elizabethtown home, stole guns

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Five teens have been arrested after deputies say they broke into a home near Elizabethtown, vandalized it and stole guns back mid September.

Sheriff James A. McVicker said the young men are accused of breaking into the home located on NC Highway 87 East near Elizabethtown on September 19.

McVicker said the investigators were able to get leads from residents. He said the young men broke into a home, vandalized it and then stole two shotguns from inside the home. They also vandalized two vehicles in the yard by shooting them, stole a rifle and weed eater, and then stole a pickup truck.

There was more than $6,000 in damages and stolen property. McVicker said investigators recovered the stolen truck and one of the stolen firearms.

The five men were charged with 3 counts of Larceny of a Firearm, 3 counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, 1 count of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, 1 count of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, 1 count of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, 1 count of Breaking and Entering a Residence and 1 count of Larceny from the Residence. They were additionally charged with 2 counts of Injury to Personal Property and 1 count of Injury to Real Property.

Charged were:

Darren Anthony Gardner, 16, of 774 Ben Green Industrial Park Drive, Elizabethtown. Gardner was given a $125,000.00 bond

Benjiman Allen Bailey, 16, of 705 Riverside Drive, Elizabethtown. He was jailed under a $35,000.00 bond.

Cevon Ferris Jones, 17 of 10898 East College Street, Clarkton. His bond was set at $275,000.00.

Dillon Keith Long, 17, of 2686 Grimsley Farm Road, Bladenboro. Long received a $175,000.00 bond.

Jonathan Lee Melvin Jr., 19 of 46 Plum Tree Lane, Elizabethtown. Melvin’s bond was set at $35,000.00.

“Sharp eyed neighbors were instrumental in providing us with information that lead my deputies to the culprits and solved this crime,” McVicker added. “Neighbors watching out for neighbors can mean a lot. We are always more than happy to help neighborhoods set up community watch programs.”