Suspects Arrested on Grand Larceny & Entering without Breaking

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 30, 2024, several vehicles in the Riverlake area of Saint Albans, West Virginia, were tampered with. Numerous victims called to report that their vehicles had been ransacked overnight and some vehicles had items stolen from them. The auto tampering continued in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 31, 2024, and more victims were called to report the incidents. Some victims had video recordings of a male on their property during the morning hours and shared the video with the Saint Albans Police Department. The suspect had very distinctive clothing but concealed a portion of his face.

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, a victim called to report his side-by-side had been stolen from his property in the Riverlake area. A second victim notified police that a male had entered his enclosed carport in the early morning hours and stole the victim’s daughter’s bicycle. The victim shared surveillance video with the police department, and the video revealed it was the same suspect from the two previous mornings, and he was still wearing the same distinctive clothing. Officers from the Saint Albans Police Department, Kanawha County Sheriffs Department, and members of the Metro Drug Unit canvassed the Riverlake area and located the stolen side by side in a wooded area. The side-by-side was recovered.

Officers then located a male riding the stolen bicycle and took him into custody. The investigation then led officers to an apartment on Shadyside Road in Saint Albans, where investigators observed evidence of yet another auto tampering that had been reported in Kanawha County, where credit cards and a firearm had been stolen from a vehicle. Officers had an outstanding warrant for the suspect, identified as Rickey Lee Gibson, Jr of Saint Albans, West Virginia.

Officers were given permission to enter the residence, where they located the suspect hiding under a bed. He was taken into custody without incident. The Saint Albans Police Department and the Kanawha County Sheriffs Department have recovered property believed to be stolen from the Saint Albans area. If you have property missing and can identify your property, you can contact the agencies to inquire about possible recovered stolen property.

Rickey Lee Gibson, Jr will be charged with grand larceny and entering without breaking.