Three arrested in burglary ring bust

By Denice Thibodeau

Published: August 26, 2008

Three people are charged in connection with multiple home burglaries over the last few months in Virginia and North Carolina.

Timothy Wayne Nichols, 20, and Jessica Hazelwood Richardson, 21, both of Leasburg, N.C., have been charged with breaking and entering, larceny and possessing and concealing stolen property in three separate burglaries in Caswell County, N.C.

The two were arrested Aug. 11 after a traffic stop that turned up stolen merchandise in their vehicle, authorities said Tuesday at a joint news conference in Chatham. Officers had been looking for the vehicle based on a description received after a burglary earlier in the day, authorities said.

Caswell County Sheriff Michael Welch said charges are pending on other property crimes in the area.

Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor said a large amount of stolen property was recovered at the home of 63-year-old Wayne Adams, of Mount Hermon.

He was arrested on drug charges and released on bond, authorities said, noting charges related to possession of stolen property have not yet been made.

Taylor said Adams is a friend of Nichols and Richardson, who stayed at his home from time to time.

Nichols and Richardson, who in interviews referred to themselves as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, accumulated goods worth more than $43,000 in the burglaries, Taylor said.

Welch said since the arrests were made, the couple also has been charged with an additional burglary in Person County, N.C.

Taylor said much of the property has been returned to its owners, but that a substantial amount is still being held as evidence because no one has claimed it yet.

Most of the burglaries uncovered to date have occurred in the past couple of months, Taylor said, though at least one dated back to 2007.

Prescription drugs, including OxyContin and methadone, were a large part of what was recovered, and investigators believe drugs were a major motive for the crimes.

“The motivation (was) money to purchase prescription drugs is our assumption at this point,” Taylor said.

Pittsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney David Grimes said the couple faces serious charges that could result in sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

Items netted at Adams’ home included a huge assortment of jewelry, from costume jewelry to a set of pearls valued at $10,000. Authorities also seized rifles, golf clubs, tools, camera and computer equipment, an air compressor and many bottles of prescription medications.

Nichols and Richardson were originally held at the Caswell County Detention Facility on secured bonds of $75,000 each. They are currently being held at Person County Jail in North Carolina, where they face extradition to other jurisdictions involved once that county completes its prosecution.

Taylor said authorities from all jurisdictions involved in the case spent hundreds on the investigation.

“This is another example of cooperation between law enforcement agencies for the common good,” he said.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.