Detectives find chop shop in Fayetteville

Fayetteville, N.C. — Cumberland County Sheriff’s Property Crimes Detectives charged a Fayetteville woman Thursday with motor vehicle theft and operating a chop shop.

Bernette Maronda Thaggard, 28, of 4774 Old Savannah Church Road was arrested at her home after detectives tracked a stolen car to her property using GPS technology.

Investigators said they also found a barn converted into a chop shop. Parts to at least nine different cars were identified and the license plate of another vehicle, which had been reported stolen in Fayetteville earlier this year, was recovered.

Thaggard was released from the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $5,000 secured bond.

She is employed as a security guard for a security firm in Elizabethtown, detectives said.

Investigators said they are looking for a second suspect who goes by the street name “Bear.” Anyone with information regarding the identity of this person is asked to call 919-484-8477. All calls are confidential.