A vehicle turned out to be “hot” in more ways than one for an alleged car thief. Around 4:00am Saturday, an SUV traveling on Interstate 95 in Selma caught fire. Fire crews arrived on the scene to put out the burning Jeep Cherokee. Selma Police also responded.
An officer conducted a routine check on the license plate and found out the Jeep had been reported stolen.
The driver, Larry Wayne Hopkins, 60, of Siler City was charged with the theft of the motor vehicle. He was also wanted on a failure to appear warrant in Jasper County, South Carolina where authorities there issued a fugitive warrant for his arrest. He was confined in the Johnston County under a $20,000 bond on the theft charge and no bond on the fugitive warrant.
The burned vehicle was towed from the scene.
