A bicycle apparently got one South Carolina man to a storage facility, but police say he chose a considerably larger vehicle for the trip out. Berkeley County deputies say 29-year-old Kenneth Kyle Hampton stole four sets of vehicle keys before using one of them to drive away in a 2025 Ford Transit U-Haul van.
The investigation began on September 8 when a deputy responded to Storage King on South Live Oak Drive in Moncks Corner for a reported theft. Investigators determined that a male suspect had arrived at the property on a bicycle before targeting an after-hours vehicle key drop box.
According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect used bolt cutters to cut the lock securing the box. Four sets of vehicle keys were taken, and authorities say the suspect then used one of those sets to steal the Ford Transit van from the property.
Deputies did not have to wait particularly long for the stolen U-Haul to reappear. Later that same day, a Berkeley County deputy spotted the van at Mr. Fuel on North Main Street in Summerville and attempted a traffic stop as it pulled into a parking space.
Stolen U-Haul Is Found, but Driver Takes Off on Foot
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The sheriff’s office identified Hampton as the person driving the stolen van when the deputy attempted the stop. Rather than remain with his considerably less subtle mode of transportation, police say Hampton ignored the deputy’s commands, got out of the van, and ran across North Main Street.
The deputy chased Hampton on foot and eventually caught up with him in another parking lot along North Main Street. Authorities say Hampton actively resisted as the deputy attempted to take him into custody.
The encounter became more serious when police say Hampton grabbed at the deputy’s duty belt and service weapon holster during the struggle. The deputy was ultimately able to take Hampton into custody, and the sheriff’s office did not report any injuries stemming from the encounter.
Bicycle Trip Ends With Grand Larceny and Other Charges
Hampton was charged with grand larceny, petit larceny, malicious injury to property, and resisting arrest with assault on a law enforcement officer. The sheriff’s office did not provide additional details about which specific portions of the incident corresponded with each of the larceny charges.
The stolen Ford Transit was also recovered following Hampton’s arrest and returned to U-Haul management. A search for Hampton’s name in the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office inmate roster did not return additional booking or custody details at the time of writing.
What police say began with Hampton arriving at the storage facility on a bicycle ended with a stolen U-Haul, a foot chase, and four criminal charges. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation remains ongoing.