When someone steals a car, it tends to make the news. When someone steals a semi-truck, it tends to make you wonder how exactly that works. These things weigh 80,000 pounds fully loaded and are not exactly easy to tuck behind a bush. Yet a pair of men from Hope Mills and Raeford, North Carolina, apparently figured out a method that kept investigators busy across two states for quite some time.
Andrew Jumpp, 37, of Hope Mills and Prince Betts of Raeford were arrested following coordinated raids on properties in Cumberland and Hoke counties, carried out by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation this past Wednesday. The operation they are accused of running targeted commercial trucks and trailers across North and South Carolina, adding up to more than $630,000 in stolen vehicles before authorities caught up with them.
What made this scheme a little more involved than your average theft was the rental angle. According to state officials, the suspects allegedly stole the trucks, then altered the vehicle identification numbers and license plates, and turned around and rented the rigs to unsuspecting businesses and individuals. In other words, the stolen property was generating income while investigators were still trying to figure out where it went. That takes a certain kind of nerve, or at least a remarkable tolerance for risk.
The investigation reportedly began along the North Carolina coast and eventually expanded as the pattern of thefts became clear. When the raids finally happened, law enforcement recovered two motor vehicles, six semi-trucks, and three trailers. Not a bad haul for a single day’s work, though the SBI was quick to note that dozens of additional vehicles connected to the scheme are still unaccounted for.
How the Freightliner in Anson County Fits In
One theft that has since been tied to the larger operation dates back to October 2, 2024, when a 2021 Freightliner tractor-trailer was quietly disconnected from its trailer at a concrete business in the Peachland area and driven off the property around 2 a.m. The truck traveled as far as the Rockingham area before going dark, apparently once whoever had it disabled the GPS.
That truck sat in limbo for nearly two years until June 3, 2026, when the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office recovered it during a search warrant at a local business and connected it to the broader investigation. Both Jumpp and Betts now face felony larceny charges for the Anson County theft in addition to whatever comes from the larger case.
What Happens to the Trucks Still Missing
The SBI confirmed that a significant number of vehicles connected to this scheme have not yet been found. If any business or individual suspects they may have unknowingly rented a truck from the suspects, they are asked to contact the SBI at 919-662-4500.
The Anson County Sheriff’s Office is also accepting tips at 704-694-4188 for anything connected to the local theft.
Why Semi-Truck Theft Is Worth Paying Attention To
Commercial truck theft is not a new problem, but the rental angle in this case puts it in a different category. Businesses that lease equipment from third parties without fully verifying ownership can find themselves in a complicated spot if that equipment turns out to be stolen.
It is the kind of thing that tends to feel like someone else’s problem right up until it is not. Both men remain in custody in Cumberland County, and the investigation is ongoing.