Three charged with stealing fridges, stoves from homes for sale in 12 counties

Sheriff Keith Stone said Kimberly Dale Adams, 49, of 4505 Clifton Road in Knightdale, Wesley Adam Narron, 26, of 11798 U.S. Highway 64 in Spring Hope, and Thomas Glenn Wiggs, 44, of 105 Erik Drive in Dudley, were each charged with multiple felonies after breaking into at least 70 homes that were for sale.

Stone said the trio searched real estate websites for vacant houses before stealing stainless steel appliances, including stoves, refrigerators and microwaves, from the homes.

“Nobody was living in these homes and they just took their time going in and after 60 or 70 homes, you get pretty good at it,” Stone said of how the trio was able to execute the crimes.

"Just because you are selling the home, doesn't mean you should be giving up on the home. Make sure that you continue to have it checked so if something is broken into or if something is missing that we know it immediately," he added.

Stone said the appliances were sold throughout the state, largely through trading apps, and officials are working to recover the stolen items.

Authorities estimate the total value of the stolen items to be between $75,000 and $100,000, in addition to damage done to the homes during the break-ins.

“If you’re going to look at a home and it’s going to need work after a break-in, you’re going to be a little leery,” Stone said of the impact the crimes had on the market value of the homes.

Stone confirmed that Adams and Wiggs were previously arrested for stealing appliances from vacant homes in Fuquay-Varina several years ago.

The case remains under investigation, Stone said.