A Rowan County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested a Charlotte man Saturday who officers said confessed to stealing from Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse stores on a weekly basis.

After observing a van following too closely on Interstate 85, Deputy W.T. Belvin noticed it did not have a tag and the driver had displayed a “lost tag” sign in the back window.

He pulled the van and found the driver to be visibly nervous. Belvin asked the driver, Hugh Earl Wright, 46, of Charlotte, if he could see what was in the back of the van. Wright agreed and Belvin opened the back doors to find a toaster, tiller, two air conditioners and an air compressor, all from Lowes and all still in their original packaging. The merchandise was valued at $920.

Upon further investigation, Belvin found that the merchandise had been taken from Lowes stores in Salisbury, Lexington and Winston-Salem.

Wright told Belvin that a woman in Charlotte owned the vehicle. When questioned, the woman said she had removed the tag and canceled the insurance two days prior when Monroe Police showed up at her door looking for Wright. Monroe Police were looking for him in connection with some stolen goods from a Lowes there.

When questioned, Wright admitted that he had been stealing from Lowe’s stores every week for some time to support his drug habit. He told Belvin he spent $100 per week on crack-cocaine. Belvin did not find any drugs on him at the time.

Belvin charged Wright with possession of stolen property, driving with a revoked license, following too close, no liability insurance and fictitious registration plate. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under $2,000 secured bond.

Contact Jillian McCartney at 704-797-4253 or jmccartney@salisburypost.com .