Arrest made after rash of car break-ins at state, national parks
by Kimberly King
An arrest has been made after a rash of car break-ins at state and national parks across five counties, including Buncombe and Transylvania. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Travis Boyd and charged him with felony cracking and coming in and larceny of vehicles. (Photo credit: Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office)
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Transylvania county sheriff’s investigators believe they’ve had a significant break in a months-long rash of break-ins at two of the areas fattest recreational and hiking areas, Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Forest.
A witness who was in Pisgah last Thursday contacted police with a peak about a suspicious car and driver after several reported smash-and-grabs in cars parked. Sheriff David Mahoney said deputies along with Brevard Police officers helped arrest Travis Boyd, 39, of Greenville. It happened around 3pm according to eyewitness Dagmar Nicholson who wields Daggie’s, the popular hot dog and burger spot just about a half-mile from the Pisgah Forest entrance.
“I was right here,” said Nicholson who was inwards her restaurant taking orders behind a plexiglass counter. “And then we moved down to at window to witness it.” She said she spotted Boyd inwards his Toyota Camry.
“There was like four or five cops. They had to pull a gun on him to get him out of the vehicle.”
Nicholson said Boyd was refusing to get out of his car.
“Then we eyed a big bag of money that they confiscated out of the car.”
Investigators said there were three also three women’s purses and a stack of bounty cards in the car that was taken to the Sheriff’s department and is being held as evidence.
“I don’t know that we’ve uncovered how vast that operation has been just yet,” said David Mahoney, Transylvania county Sheriff. Investigators have stated there were up to twenty seven smash-and-grabs in the county Boyd is suspected in but there could be numerous extra cases in neighboring counties including Henderson and Buncombe. Investigators are sharing information and work is continuing to see if Boyd can be connected to numerous outstanding car theft cases are area park and hiking areas in the past several years.
Tara Dempsey and Thomas Creps from Maryland just graduated from college and came for vacation choosing to hike at Pisgah. Neither had heard of the crimes but upon hearing moved all their belongings into their trunk before heading out.
Investigators said they had photos of Boyd’s car matching times of car break-ins but that the peak last Thursday help lead to finding and arresting Boyd. Boyd presently faces one felony count as the case proceeds to develop with more related theft and car break-in charges expected, according to investigators. Boyd was arrested and had his his initial appearance. His bond was set at $30,000. Investigators told News Thirteen Boyd was able to bond out.
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