Men charged in multi-county car break-in spree

Authorities arrested two men on Thursday suspected of breaking into several cars across multiple municipalities in central North Carolina.

Lester Mayo, 18, was served with 38 warrants, totaling 110 felony charges and 52 misdemeanor charges. The Raleigh Police Department was still pursuing additional charges related to his arrest on Thursday.

Corey Wright, 18, is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, resisting a public officer and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

On April 28, 2026, Raleigh police officers responded to a report of larceny from cars on South Saunders Street near Penmarc Drive.

Raleigh police said surveillance video captured a suspect breaking into vehicles with a handgun.

Police said that video marked the beginning of an investigation linking several car break-ins in Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Garner and Morrisville and led them to a group of suspects operating from the Durham area.

"You feel violated, no one expects that," said Rudolph Cornett, one of the victims. "You see these things on the news all the time, but we never expect it to happen to us, you know."

Cornett said his car was stolen from a Durham parking garage. 

"When I got off of work, I went to my normal place where I parked my car and it wasn't there,” he said.

Law enforcement said the suspects targeted high-density parking lots and construction sites with an emphasis on finding guns. Raleigh police said more than 12 guns were stolen during the incidents.

Another victim, who asked not to be identified, says her car was stolen from a hospital parking deck.

“Somebody may be there caring for someone else or a loved one that you are visiting is sick or someone else is sick," the woman said. "It's even worse in my opinion.”

Corporal Earl Jeffries with the Durham County Sheriff's Office was involved in this investigation. 

WRAL News asked why it took so long and so many incidents for law enforcement to arrest the suspects. He said it took multiple agencies to piece the puzzle together. 

“During that time you know they reach out to us and say does this look familiar and more than likely it does and then we share notes that way,” Jeffries said.

Authorities are examining phone data and collaborating with law enforcement agencies in other municipalities. 

The investigation is still ongoing. Both Mayo and Wright are still in jail awaiting an appearance in court.