Teenager faces more charges related to October vehicle break-ins

Published 11:43 am Friday, November 17, 2017

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Rowan County authorities have brought more charges against a Salisbury teenager nearly a month after he was charged with breaking into a vehicle in his own neighborhood.

In that incident, the teen was caught firing a shotgun that he had stolen from a nearby vehicle.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Anthony Mason Cunningham, 18, of the 100 block of Allen Lane, with four counts of felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle and three counts of misdemeanor larceny.

Officials said the most recent break-ins occurred Oct. 23, the same day Cunningham was accused of breaking into a vehicle and a home. He was issued an initial bond of $30,000.

One victim told detectives that her 2014 Hyundai Elantra was broken into while parked at her Allen Lane home. She said $10 was taken from the vehicle’s center console. She kept the money in the car in case she needed cash, she said.

Another victim told officers that his 2011 Toyota Tacoma was broken into while parked at Sharp Transit, 1355 Long Ferry Road, where he works. His Celebrex prescription medication was taken from the pickup.

Another employee of Sharp Transit told authorities his 2004 Dodge pickup was broken into and three packs of Camel cigarettes and his Android cellphone were taken.

In 2016, a then 16-year-old Cunningham and another teenager were charged with breaking into a number of vehicles in the El Patron Mexican restaurant parking lot. Employees told police their vehicles were broken into during the night. The cars were unlocked, the employees said.

The thefts were discovered at the end of their shifts.

That same night, the teens were spotted breaking into a vehicle parked at a South Main Street home.

Cunningham was convicted of those break-ins and given 18 months’ probation. He has also been convicted of misdemeanor larceny.

He has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.