Citizen tip leads to arrest of suspected West Ashley thieves

WEST ASHLEY, SC (WCSC) - Police say a citizen's tip led to the arrest of three men accused of breaking into several cars at a West Ashley neighborhood.

The Charleston Police Department charged 23-year-old Tyrell Anthony Heyward, 17-year-old Tyrell Maurice White and 21-year-old Terris Irell White with nine counts of breaking into a motor vehicle and possession of tools capable of being used in a crime.

The trio, all from North Charleston, were locked up at the Al Cannon Detention Center.

Around 5 a.m., a citizen contacted authorities and said three men were tugging on vehicle door handles on Grovehurst Drive in the Carolina Bay neighborhood.

The citizen reported seeing one one of the men enter a vehicle and rummage through the console. The information was then given to officers patrolling the area.

A CPD report states an officer was approaching Carolina Bay Drive and Memorial Drive when he saw a vehicle occupied by three men disregard the traffic sign at the intersection and turn left onto Carolina Bay Drive.

The officer initiated a traffic stop in the 1800 block of Carolina Bay Drive.

Investigators say in plain view inside of the vehicle, the officer saw tools commonly used to break into vehicles along with bags containing numerous electronics.

Officers patrolled the area and found that nine vehicles had been broken into on Grovehurst Drive, Parklawn Drive and Pepperwood Court.

Kelsey Lockliear's car was broken into at the Element apartment complex. Some cash was taken from her car.

"I was very very angry especially knowing  I work so hard for my belongings," Lockliear said. "For somebody just to come around and take them when it's not theirs, it just kind of sucks."

The owners were located and identified the property found in the vehicle with the men as items taken from their vehicles.

If you live in this area and have not reported items taken from your vehicle, please contact Team 4 at 766-3908.

According to police, all of the items were taken from unlocked vehicles.

CPD officials are urging residents to lock vehicle doors and take valuables inside each night.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

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