From left, Hardy, Person and Rawls

Alert neighbors Monday helped lead Halifax County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the arrest of alleged metal thieves.

Deputies Herbert Williams and C.E. Carroll were called to the Lake Drive area of Weldon about suspicious activity under a house.

Lieutenant Chuck Hasty said a neighbor spotted several people going under the vacant house. Carroll and Williams found them underneath, allegedly removing copper wire.

The deputies detained and later charged a boy and two men with breaking and entering, attempted larceny and injury to real property.The three — Donrell Jamill Person, 17; Dominique Lenotae Hardy, 19, and Kenyell Lamar Rawls, 23 — did not have permission to be at the house or take anything from it. The three are from Weldon.

The three were jailed on $5,000 bonds and have April 12 court dates.

Hasty was appreciative of the community involvement. “I would like to thank the citizens that do get involved and try to help out their neighborhoods.  This goes to show that with all the extra eyes in their community it helps the law enforcement officers and keeps their community safer for everyone.”

Hasty encourages people who see suspicious activity to call the sheriff’s office or local police department.

Those interested in forming a Community Watch program may do so by calling Major Bruce Temple at 252-593-1015.