A Southern Pines man is accused of breaking into a vehicle and using a stolen credit card to purchase $1600 worth of merchandise.
Warrants were issued for forty-two-year-old Thomas McLaughlin on charges of two counts of felony identity theft and two counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses.
“On August 9, 2024, Aberdeen Investigators received a report of credit card fraud that occurred following a vehicle breaking and entering in Southern Pines on August 8, 2024,” said Aberdeen Police Chief Brian Chavis in a news release. “After further investigation, it was determined that the stolen credit cards were used to obtain over $1,600.00 worth of merchandise at businesses in Aberdeen. Additional investigations were conducted and video surveillance was reviewed, which lead to the identification of McLaughlin.”
McLaughlin was apprehended in Cabarrus County, where a magistrate gave him a $2,000 secured bond.
Defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
Photo of Thomas McLaughlin via Moore County Detention Center.
