Charlotte man charged with 17 vehicle break-ins in Salisbury

Published 12:06 pm Tuesday, June 25, 2019

SALISBURY — A Charlotte man has been charged with breaking into 17 vehicles over a three-day period in Salisbury.

Garnett Ryheem Coulbourne, 31, was arrested by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Thursday.

Coulbourne targeted full-size pickups, according to authorities.

On the afternoon of March 6, authorities said, he broke into numerous vehicles at Duke Energy Carolinas, 700 E. Ritchie Road. On April 2, reports say he broke into more vehicles at the Shoppes at Summit, 115 Summit Drive. He also is charged with breaking into a couple of vehicles at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College on May 29. All together, reports indicate he broke into 17 pickup trucks.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said he took items including guns, tools, electronics and in one break-in and emergency equipment and a kevlar vest, which is bullet proof.

The break-ins were similar — solely pick-up trucks, windows broken and high cost items stolen in a small radius.

One victim was able to recover his stolen MacBook Pro from Monroe Road phone repair shop. The shop did not have the suspect’s name, but was able to provide video footage, which showed a black male with a goatee and medium length hair driving a white Cadillac sedan. The deputy at the community college had footage of a white Cadillac CTS and a black male.

Another victim whose phone was stolen tracked his phone to Hudson Commons Apartment in Concord and Pecan Avenue in Charlotte. Officers went to Pecan Avenue area on June 9 and did not locate the vehicle. They went to Hudson Commons Apartments and found a similar vehicle. They ran the tag and found a phone number associated with the car. Officers contacted the owner who had said her friend, Coulbourne, had borrowed her car about three or four months ago.

Officers found Coulbourne on Facebook, and he matched the suspect description from the phone repair shop. They also found a photo of him posing in front of the Cadillac.

He was also previously arrested for break-ins in 2013-2015, including on Klumac Road. Warrants were obtained on June 17. He was arrested on June 20 by the CMPD. The following day, Rowan County sheriffs deputies attempted to interview Coulbourne, but he refused to speak.

He was charged with 17 counts of felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and three counts of felony larceny of a firearm. He was also charged with a probation violation from Mecklenburg County.

He was given a $67,000 secured bond for Rowan County, and $10,000 secured bond for Mecklenburg County.