Sampson County Detectives Recover Boat, Pickup, Other Stolen Property

CLINTON – The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest following the recovery of stolen property. Recently, residents along Hayne Stretch Road, Greens Bridge Road, and Boykin Bridge Road reported items had been taken.

Deputies developed leads regarding the stolen property, which led investigators to a wooded area on Butler Island Road. A search of the site revealed items previously reported stolen. Evidence guided investigators to a location on NC 210 in Bladen County, where they located a boat previously reported stolen from Hayne Stretch Road and a pickup truck stolen from Boykin Bridge Road. Additional stolen goods reported stolen to other law enforcement agencies was also recovered.

While on the property, detectives encountered a man who claimed he was only there to fish, and didn’t live at the address. The individual gave officers a fictitious name but was later identified as Thomas Franklin Norris. Norris was charged with felony larceny and held on a $10,000 bond.

The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges have not been ruled out.