AHOSKIE – A rash of recent crimes involving breaking and entering of motor vehicles appears to be solved.

A joint effort between law enforcement agencies in Hertford and Bertie counties resulted in the arrests of four Ahoskie men on Thursday. All stand charged with a string of crimes dating as far back as June 30.

Brothers Montay Early, 17, and 19-year-old Maurice Dashound Early, both of 410 West Hayes, were arrested and each charged with 14 felony counts of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; 14 felony counts of larceny; one felony count of larceny of a firearm; one felony count of burglary; two misdemeanor counts of injury to real property; and one misdemeanor count of injury to personal property.

Both were jailed in the Hertford County DetentionCenter – Montay under a $152,500 secured bond and his older brother under a $121,000 secured bond – and made their initial court appearance on Friday.

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan said the crimes took place at residences throughout the county – addresses on NC 461, NC 561, NC 11, the Millennium community, Johnny Mitchell Road, Ahoskie-Cofield Road and Saluda Hall Road. Six of the break-ins were reported on Aug. 27.

Meanwhile, the Ahoskie Police reported the Sept. 4 arrests of two others – Tevin Moore, 17, of 1410 North MLK Drive, Ahoskie (charged with felony larceny of a firearm and jailed under a $15,000 secured bond), and Capone Rontez Ridley, 20, of 1003 Newsome Street. Ridley was charged with three felony counts of possession of a stolen firearm; one felony count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and maintaining a dwelling to store controlled substances; and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed in HalifaxCounty under a $100,000 bond.

“We are following up on these cases and more arrest warrants are forthcoming,” said Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh.

Fitzhugh added that other than the aforementioned areas of Hertford County, these types of crimes have recently been reported in Ahoskie, Windsor and BertieCounty. He said those crimes have apparently occurred elsewhere, as upon the arrests of the Ahoskie foursome, property reported stolen in Northampton County and Pitt County was discovered.

Fitzhugh credited Windsor Police Lt. Ricky Morris with initiating the initial investigation. Once Morris learned that the rash of crimes extended outside of his jurisdiction, he contacted the Ahoskie Police.

“We came together at that point, to include the Hertford County Sheriff and the Aulander Police Department, and began to look for persons of interest in these thefts,” Fitzhugh said.

When Ahoskie Police Sgt. Michael Kellet performed a traffic stop on a vehicle believed to be involved in the crimes, Fitzhugh said it all came together.

“It was just a case of great police work between all the agencies involved,” he stressed. “I can’t say enough about the work of Lt. Morris over in Windsor and Captain Will Liverman of the (Hertford County) Sheriff’s Office.

“My guys – namely Sgt. Hoggard, Sgt. Kellet, Lt. Jeremy Roberts, Detective Sgt. Stephen White, and Major Jimmy Asbell – all did a great job. I’m thankful for them and thankful that we were able to bring some closure to the victims of these crimes,” Fitzhugh added.