Two charged in mower theft
Published 9:09 pm Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Law enforcement in Isle of Wight County have arrested two men and charged them with stealing nine commercial-grade mowers from a local business.
Both men are suspected in a similar incidents in Suffolk and other jurisdictions in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas, according to a press release.
Christopher Funai, 39, and Herbert Worrell III, 36, both of the 100 block of Lake Street in Chesapeake, are charged. Funai is charged with eight counts of grand larceny and two counts of larceny with intent to sell, and Worrell is charged with eight counts of conspiracy to commit larceny.
The Isle of Wight incident happened on May 26, when the owner of Walters Outdoor Power Equipment on Walters Highway noticed nine commercial-grade, zero-turn mowers worth more than $80,000 were missing. A fence had been cut on a field adjacent to the storage area to gain access to the business.
The store’s surveillance system showed what appeared to be a dark-colored Dodge pickup truck pulling a trailer with a lawnmower on it.
Funai has been developed as a suspect in the burglary of Crawford’s Small Engine Repair in Southampton County, according to the release. Worrell is suspected in a similar incident in Suffolk, the release added.
The Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office continues to seek additional information on the case and is working with other regional jurisdictions to conclude their cases. Anyone who purchased a mower from or had any contact with Funai or Worrell is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 357-2151.