LINCOLNTON, N.C. - A Gastonia man was arrested on July 15, 2024 after a North Ingleside Farm Road resident arrived home to find the man inside his home. According to deputies, the homeowner arrived to find the man standing in his kitchen wearing the homeowner’s clothes and shoes. The homeowner called 911 and deputies responded and quickly took the man into custody.

Detective J. Propst with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division arrived to process the scene and investigate further.  Two bags were found outside the residence that contained items from inside the residence and a bicycle was found outside a building located on the property.  Inside the bags, detectives located evidence that the suspect had also broken into a nearby residence located near the 6900 block of Golden Eagle Trail.

Tanou Chittamath, 46, of Lane Xang Rd. Gastonia, NC was charged with two felony counts of Breaking and Entering and one felony count each of Larceny After Break and Entering and Possession of Stolen Goods.  Chittamath received a no bond hold pending appearance before a district court judge on July 16, 2024 for the break in on N. Ingleside Farm Rd and a $1,000 secured bond for the break in on Golden Eagle Trail.