A local man and woman were arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing auto parts from a repair shop after the recycling center where they attempted to sell the parts reported them.
Troy Lee Willich, 31, who lists an A.D. Lane address, and Colleen McCarthy, 57, of Hot Springs, were both taken into custody shortly after 3:30 p.m. and each charged with a felony count of theft of property over $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Willich remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $4,500 bond while McCarthy was released on $3,500 bond. According to court records, Willich was previously convicted of a felony count of residential burglary in 2014 and sentenced to five years in prison. McCarthy had no prior felony convictions, but pleaded no contest to misdemeanor theft by receiving in 2019 and was sentenced to six months' probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Monday, the owner of Bullett's Auto, 206 Beach Haven Road, reported the theft of multiple car parts from his shop totaling around $2,500.
After noticing the items missing, the owner checked his video surveillance system and saw a man and woman in a white Ford Ranger extended cab truck with "Rover" on the front of the hood taking the items. He sent photos of the truck and the two suspects to TRG Inc. recycling center, 4400 Malvern Ave.
On Tuesday, a representative of TRG called the sheriff's office to report the Ford Ranger with "Rover" on the front was at their scrap yard with car parts matching the description of those stolen from Bullett's. It was noted the Ranger was being driven by a man and woman who also matched the description of the suspects in the video.
Deputies responded to the center and located the man and woman, identified as Willich and McCarthy, in the Ranger, which was pulling a trailer containing parts matching those reported stolen.
The two were taken into custody and brought to the sheriff's office for questioning. After being read their rights, Willich allegedly admitted to taking the car parts from Bullett's and McCarthy allegedly admitted to being with Willich who "made her help take the car parts" from Bullett's.