After months of investigation, one suspect responsible for the theft of two HVAC units from the Cedar Grove Ruritan Club has been arrested.

Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brandon Perry Howell, 31, of Hurdle Mills for the late-March larceny on Thursday.

The Goodman-branded air conditioning units were on the property at 6116 Efland Cedar Grove Road awaiting installation when they were stolen. The thieves also stole an HVAC pad. The value of the stolen property totaled $5,750.

According to the sheriff’s office, upon arrest, Howell appeared before a magistrate and made a written promise to appear in court Friday at 2:00 p.m.

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, “Although Mr. Howell emerged as a suspect early in this case, it took time and a lot of diligence on the part of our investigators to gather enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant. These efforts paid off.”

Surveillance photos and video from the night showed an older model pickup truck arriving and departing the property. At least two individuals were seen in the truck, which has a standard cab with tinted windows.

A photo from surveillance footage of a truck involved in the larceny of two HVAC units from The Cedar Grove Ruritan Club.

Officials said the other suspect in this case has not yet been arrested.

Anyone with information about additional suspects is asked to contact Investigator Jason Nazworth at 919-245-2960 or jnazworth@orangecountync.gov.

Sheriff Blackwood is offering a $1,500 cash reward for anyone who has information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for taking the HVAC units.

Lead photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

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