Halifax man charged with stealing cars from elderly relative

Detective J. Puhak said the case first came to investigators' attention when an elderly Roanoke Rapids man reported that an older, nonfunctional vehicle had been stolen from his property. A family member, Bernard Lynn Harris, 50, helped the victim file the report.

Deputies got a break in the case when they got a call about a suspicious vehicle around N.C. Highway 48 and Smith Church Road. Puhak said that deputies found Raymond Bruce Cain, 69, in the area and prevented another vehicle from being stolen from the victim's property.

Investigators determined that Harris and Cain had an agreement to steal vehicles from Harris' relative and sell them for scrap metal, Puhak said.

Harris was charged with exploitation of an elderly person's trust, larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of felony conspiracy and filing a false police report.

Cain was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and two counts of felony conspiracy.

Both suspects were placed in the Halifax County jail and scheduled to appear in court July 26. Harris received a $12,000 bond, and Cain a $5,000 bond.

Harris has 16 convictions dating to 1988, including forgery, attempted identity theft, breaking and entering and larceny, according to state department of Correction records. He has served more than six years in prison and was most recently released in November.

Cain was convicted of felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering in 1985, DOC records show.