GOLD HILL — Rowan County Sheriff’s officials are looking into the theft of 14 utility poles from a local lumber business. It appears someone in a truck with a boom lift attached took the poles sometime Wednesday evening.

The owner, William Earnhardt, said a tenant who lives in an apartment on the property, saw someone take the poles. He told investigators nine poles were valued at $1,000 and the five smaller poles were valued at $200. Earnhardt Lumber is located along U.S. 52.

The tenant said some men with hard hats and the letters NACC written on the hats and shirts said they had permission from a utility company to pick up the poles. The poles were behind a building in an alleyway.

The tenant told authorities he tried to tell the men he would call the owner and let them know, but the men took off with the poles anyway.

The owner told authorities no one had permission to take the poles. It’s not immediately clear the origin of any company with the NACC initials.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245 or Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700.