Windshield Repair Uncovers Stolen Pickup

ANGIER — What began as a routine windshield repair ended in a costly discovery for a western Johnston County man, who learned the Chevrolet pickup truck he had been driving for nearly a year had been stolen.

The 29-year-old man contacted the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office on December 11 after a windshield replacement revealed irregularities with the vehicle’s identification number. According to the report, technicians noticed the VIN dataplate appeared to have been altered while removing the damaged windshield.

The man told deputies he purchased the truck in 2024 through Facebook Marketplace for $45,000. He met the seller in the Greenville, NC area, where he was provided a title for the vehicle. The truck was later registered with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles without issue.

Following the discovery, investigators located the vehicle’s true VIN elsewhere on the truck. A database check confirmed the pickup had been reported stolen from a Chevrolet dealership in Elizabeth City, NC.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the recovery of the vehicle, which has since been returned to the dealership.

The victim is now left without the truck and the money he paid for it. Authorities say the investigation into the theft and fraudulent sale is ongoing.