Man charged after $100,000 in equipment stolen from Sampson fire station

A man and several others are accused of breaking into a Sampson County fire station and stealing $100,000 worth of equipment.

Amari Smith, 22, of Rose Hill, is charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods after a break-in reported Tuesday at the Piney Grove Fire Department.

On Thursday deputies with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office responded to the fire station on Goshen Church Road, where so much equipment was stolen that the fire department had to take one engine out of service and borrow equipment from other stations to stay in operation, officials said.

Investigators used surveillance video to identify Smith and three other suspects.

Officers with the Clinton Police Department arrested Smith, who was seen walking in a neighborhood. Smith was on scheduled house arrest, but his monitor had been disabled, the sheriff's office said.

Smith was served with outstanding orders for arrest in Sampson County for possession of marijuana and selling and delivering marijuana. He was charged with a Craven County warrant for possession of firearm by felon and other violations out of Pender County.

He was jailed with no bond.

Investigators are working to recover the stolen property and to identify and charge others involved in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 910-592-4141.