On Aug. 3, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report from an HVAC-installation company indicating an employee had stolen a large quantity of copper from the business.

On Aug. 8, the sheriff’s office received a report of a breaking and entering and larceny at the Word of Life Worship Center, Washington. The church was under construction, and five evaporator coils were taken from air-conditioning units in the church. The same HVAC employee had worked at the construction site.

As a result of an investigation, Investigator Ernest Moore obtained warrants charging Tolby Bright, 28, of Trails End South, Washington, with one count of breaking or entering a place of worship, one count of felony larceny, one count of embezzlement and nine counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

Because of a Crime Stopper’s tip, Bright was arrested Sunday by the Chocowinity Police Department. He was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $15,000 secured bond.