Suspect Arrested After Allegedly Stealing 3 Cars in One Night in Apex, Police Say
APEX, N.C. — A quick-thinking resident and rapid police response helped stop what authorities describe as a fast-moving vehicle theft spree in Apex—ending with a suspect in custody after allegedly stealing multiple cars across two counties in a matter of hours.
Resident Tip Leads to Arrest
Police say a 911 call about a suspicious vehicle at a construction site led to the arrest of a man accused of stealing three vehicles in succession Thursday night.
Officers responded around 8:10 p.m. to the 2100 block of Barrier Ridge Way, near Olive Chapel Road and NC 540, where they found a vehicle parked at a home under construction.
During the investigation, officers determined the driver had allegedly stolen three different vehicles back-to-back, with the vehicle at the scene identified as the third stolen car.
Suspect Identified, Facing Multiple Charges
Authorities arrested Bobby Alee McIntyre, 25, of High Point, at the scene.
He is now facing a series of charges across jurisdictions, including:
- Three counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle
- Felony possession of stolen goods/property
- Two counts of misdemeanor larceny
- Failure to report an accident
- Hit and run – leaving the scene
Police say McIntyre was found inside a stolen 2018 Ford Flex at the time of his arrest.
He is currently being held in the Wake County Jail on a $35,000 secured bond.
Earlier Crimes in Sanford
Investigators say the incident in Apex is connected to earlier activity in Sanford (Lee County), where McIntyre had already been charged with:
- Three vehicle thefts
- A hit-and-run crash
- Failing to stop at a red light
Authorities believe the crimes unfolded in rapid succession before the suspect made his way into Wake County.
Police Credit Community Awareness
Apex Police emphasized that the situation could have escalated without community involvement.
“Officers can’t be everywhere all the time… this is a great example of how calling 911 when something doesn’t seem right can make a real difference,” police said.
Officials credited the resident who reported the suspicious vehicle with helping stop the crime spree before it continued further.
Conclusion
While no injuries were reported, the case highlights how quickly crimes can escalate—and how critical community vigilance is in stopping them. Police say the investigation remains ongoing as they continue reviewing the sequence of events across county lines.