During the weekend of May 20, 2017, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a total of 10 reports of break-ins from residents in the Yacht Club Cove and Country Club Estates Subdivisions. Those residents discovered that someone had entered their storage sheds and stolen multiple items, including fishing gear, wake boards, golf clubs, lawn and garden power tools and construction power tools.
Days after the reported break-ins Sheriff’s Investigators received information from a citizen who purchased some of the stolen items at the Poor Man’s Flea Market in Pitt County. Once that citizen learned his purchase may have been stolen he contacted Investigators and turned the items over to the Sheriff’s Office. With the help of that citizen and other witnesses at the Flea Market, Investigators identified 3 suspects and a suspect vehicle possibly used in the crimes.
On May 24, 2017 at about 4:00 am Patrol Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect’s vehicle parked in a secluded area near the Washington Yacht and Country Club Golf course. Deputies maintained surveillance on the vehicle and as daylight broke area residents discovered more break-ins. However, this time, the discovery of the vehicle prompted the suspects to abandon their vehicle and their plans to steal again.
Hours after the vehicle discovery Investigators made their first of 3 arrests in this case. As Deputies continued to follow leads, they discovered items stolen from several break-ins that occurred in the Rosedale Subdivision of Washington back in April of 2017.
At present Investigators, have charged Christopher George Mason age 33, of Washington with 7 counts of Felony Breaking and Entering and 8 counts of Felony Larceny after Breaking and Entering. Both David Aksel Bunch, age 27 and Brandon Keith Manning, age 31, of Washington have been charged with 9 counts each of Felony Breaking and Entering and 9 counts each of Felony Larceny After Breaking and Entering. Mason and Bunch were arrested by Beaufort County Investigator’s while Manning was arrested in Pitt County. Mason was ordered held on a $40,000.00 secured bond, Bunch was ordered held on a $25,000.00 secured bond and Manning was ordered held on a $100,000.00 secured bond.
Investigators are currently holding several items believed to be stolen but at present have been unable to identify the owners. Those items include, fishing equipment, wake boards, kites, lawn and garden power tools, construction power tools, automotive stereos and GPS systems, Play Station game systems, and camera equipment. If you are missing any of these items, please contact the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 252-946-7111 to speak to an Investigator.
