Man faces 13 felony charges

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 15, 2009

A Salisbury man faces several felony charges in recent home burglaries after Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies found stolen goods in his home.
Tommy Wilbanks, 26, of 176 Harrelson Drive, is charged with six counts of felony breaking and entering; seven counts of felony larceny and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses.
According to a press release, the Sheriff’s Office has been investigating residential burglaries in which witnesses reported seeing a red and blue Ford Ranger in the area.
On Dec. 11, at approximately 9 a.m., Investigator Carl Dangerfield spotted a burgundy Ford Ranger with a blue left fender and blue hood near the Square in Salisbury. Dangerfield followed the vehicle for some time, even when the suspect made stops.
At about 10 a.m., the suspect vehicle was seen in the parking lot of Frank’s Pawn Shop.
Investigators talked with Wilbanks then and took him to his residence on Harrelson Drive for a search Wilbanks agreed to.
Several items of stolen property were recovered. Investigators then transported Wilbanks to the Magistrate’s Office, where he was cooperative in providing additional information regarding his involvement in several area break-ins, and how he sold some of the property to Frank’s Pawn Shop for money.
Wilbanks was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond.
Anyone with further information regarding Wilbanks’ activities should contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Chad Moose, Carl Dangerfield or Teresa Haupt at 704-216-8700, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.