A Greenbrier County man was arrested on the morning of Wednesday, March 24, after a series of thefts spanning nearly eight-weeks.
Codie Allen Walton, 24, of Rainelle, has been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle, entry of a building other than a dwelling, petit larceny and grand larceny.
On the morning of Friday, February 5, officers responded to a complaint from the Rainelle Water Department, alleging that one of their vehicles had been tampered with.
According to the criminal complaint, officials from the Rainelle Water Department advised officers that “someone had cut halfway through the exhaust pipe on both sides of the catalytic converter” in an attempt to remove it from the vehicle.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage provided by the water department, officers observed a suspect (later identified as Codie Allen Walton) arrive at the property on foot. Walton had a “saw” in his possession and was observed on the footage crawling beneath the truck.
Walton was subsequently located and interviewed by officers on Monday, February 15. During the course of the interview, Walton allegedly confessed to the crime.
Approximately five weeks later, on Monday, March 22, officers responded to reports of a break-in at Alfredo’s restaurant, located at 1100 Main Street in Rainelle.
According to the criminal complaint, Walton, who later reportedly confessed to the break-in, theft and destruction of property, entered the business after hours through the back door, then cut the wires to the security cameras.
Walton allegedly proceeded to remove $100 from the cash register, as well as various other items found throughout the store. Walton also reportedly stole an additional $200 from a vending machine while, in the process, causing approximately $1,400 damage to the unit.
On the morning of Wednesday, March 24, officers were dispatched to investigate a second break-in in the Rainelle area; this time at “the business commonly referred to as Ace Hardware,” also on Main Street. Upon their arrival, officers were advised that several pieces of equipment had been stolen while others, including a plow truck, had been damaged.
According to the criminal complaint, while being interviewed by officers after his arrest, Walton allegedly confessed to these crimes, as well.
Codie Allen Walton is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bail.
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