GATESVILLE – Although no arrests have yet been made in North Carolina, the Gates County Sheriff’s Office is on the trail of possible suspects involved in a recent rash of break-ins and thefts.

Gates County Sheriff Ed Webb said his office has developed “persons of interest” in this case, one that involves break-ins at Reynoldson Church as well as residences on the Gates School Road, Drum Hill Road and Willeyton Road. The Sheriff said the residential break-ins are occurring during the daylight hours when the homeowners are not present.

He added that the Suffolk (Va.) Police Department has made an arrest in connection with a B&E case in that state. Although Webb did not have the complete information on that arrest, he did say that person may be connected with the crimes in his county.

“This is an ongoing investigation,” Sheriff Webb said, now back performing light duty at his office following a heart attack five weeks ago. “The information we have received to date has helped us to target some suspects.”

Webb added that his deputies have served two search warrants in connection with the investigation.

“We have searched two residences in Gates County,” Webb confirmed. “The same is going on across the state line in Suffolk where the police department there is also working this case. We have persons of interest developed both here in Gates County and in Suffolk.”

Sheriff Webb added that federal law enforcement agencies are also involved with the criminal probe due to the fact that firearms are part of the items reported stolen.

“We’re working hard on this; I expect arrests to be made here in the near future,” Webb concluded.