ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — The Rowan County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help tracking down an arson suspect accused of setting fire to a storage unit in China Grove.
The person was caught on surveillance camera walking up to a home on Weaver Road in China Grove with a gas can in hand. A woman who spoke to WCNC Charlotte on Friday said she was home with her husband asleep when someone set fire to their storage building just a few feet from the house.
Thanks to the couple's surveillance cameras, they were alerted just in time to take action. Meanwhile, folks who live nearby said they're tired of seeing crimes in their community. That's why they're coming together to keep a better watch on their streets.
"It's very scary," Michelle Drye said. "Especially in the middle of the night because if the Ring had not went off, we could have died."
Drye's Ring camera captured the suspect holding a fuel can just before their shed was ignited. Drye said the person also poured gas along the wooden fence up to their house. Dry said her husband quickly jumped out of bed and put the flames out. There was minor damage to the shed and his work truck.
The incident happened back in August, but no arrests have been made in the case. The Rowan County Sheriff's Office is now asking for the public's help for any information that can lead them to the arsonist.
Neighbors say the situation is disturbing.
"This used to be a quiet neighborhood," one person said.
"In the last two years there have been a lot of crimes, theft of cars, trucks and ATVs," Melinda Miller said.
Deputies believe it's an isolated incident and don't believe there's a risk to the community. Regardless, Miller said the increase in crime led her to start the Miller Weaver Neighborhood Watch Group to keep everyone safe.
"If we find out something happened at a certain time, like the mailbox explosions the other week, we all go through our cameras," she said.
"All of us together have been reminding each other to always check your cameras, be vigilant," another neighbor said. "If you hear it, don't ignore it, go check. I've even added extra cameras on my property."
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.