‘It was a bizarre sequence of events': Burglar targets Union Co. neighborhood

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Union County deputies said a man removed property from one house and put it in someone else’s trash can near the road, believing he had every intention to go back for the items.

It was part of a string of robberies in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“It was just a bizarre sequence of events,” Union County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Underwood said.

Deputies believe the break-ins started as early as 2 a.m. in the Firethorne neighborhood in Marvin.

“That involved a homeowner’s security alarm going off,” Underwood said.

Before sunrise, the Union County Sheriff’s Office said they got another call of a suspicious person trying to charge a golf cart battery.

“While they were talking with this caller, there was an alarm activation call at the Firethorne clubhouse,” Underwood said.

[Lyft driver takes passenger on 120 mph ride through Union County]

That’s when a deputy said he watched Joseph Hinson walk off an elevator inside the clubhouse carrying a bag full of goods.

(Hinson)

“Then he started running, fleeing from the deputy,” Underwood said.

The deputy was hurt trying to arrest Hinson and is recovering from a severe rib injury.

Hinson is accused of breaking into at least five vehicles and stealing a golf cart. In addition, he allegedly broke into another vehicle parked inside an attached garage of an occupied home.

"It's scary -- stealing and taking stuff,” Firethorne resident Laura Berner said.

Deputies said the burglar was using a neighbor’s driveway as a staging area to compile stolen items.

“We’re talking about golf clubs,” Underwood said. “We’re talking about wrenches. We’re talking about credit cards. We’re talking about checkbooks.”

Hinson was finally taken into custody and taken to the county jail.

“One of the detectives observed, on the monitor, he was actually pulling the sound panels off the wall trying to destroy the room,” Underwood said. “So, there will be additional charges forthcoming concerning the property damage to county property."

Authorities believe Hinson acted alone in the crimes.

Hinson faces several charges, which include assault on a government employee, resist delay and obstruct, several counts of breaking, entering and larceny from a motor vehicle, first-degree burglary, larceny of motor vehicle, misdemeanor larceny and injury to real property.

Hinson had an outstanding warrant in Lancaster and was also charged with a fugitive warrant.

“Thankfully, we had deputies in Firethorne when the alarm call went out at the clubhouse,” Sheriff Eddie Cathey said. “Despite the suspect’s efforts to flee, we managed to take him into custody and sort out all the vehicles, garages and buildings he broke into and stole from that morning.”

Cox Media Group