Deputies: Men stole 4,000 car batteries from Thomasville business

Timothy Dennard Winston, 52, of Winston-Salem; Olin Sylvester Leak, 57, of Lexington, and Rickie Lane Leak, 49, of Winston-Salem (left to right) (Davidson Co. Sheriff's Office)

THOMASVILLE, N.C. — Three men accused of stealing about 4,000 car batteries valued at $215,000 from the Thomasville automotive business they worked at have been arrested, deputies said Monday.

Timothy Dennard Winston, 52, of Winston-Salem; Olin Sylvester Leak, 57, of Lexington, and Rickie Lane Leak, 49, of Winston-Salem, allegedly stole the items from Battery Master Inc. at 238 Mayclare Road.

Deputies said they had been stealing batteries for more than a year and selling them to a local scrapyard.

Deputies said they started investigating on May 8 after receiving a report of a larceny by employees at the business.

All three were charged with one count each of felony larceny by employee and felony obtaining property by false pretense. 

They all received $25,000 secured bonds and have Lexington court dates on June 25.

The Breaking and Entering Task Force assisted in the investigation. No other information was released.