A Roanoke woman is charged with grand larceny for her role in the theft of approximately $20,000 in used vehicle batteries. The batteries were stolen from Interstate Battery located at 3132 West Main Street in Roanoke County.

The business was burglarized on two occasions – once on October 26 and again October 27. Large quantities of used vehicle batteries are considered valuable because of the lead they contain. In this case, about 200 batteries were taken from Interstate Battery.

28-year-old Chelsea D. Thompson is being held without bond in the Roanoke County/Salem jail. She was arrested late yesterday afternoon following a tip from an employee at Interstate Battery.

The employee contacted Roanoke County Police around 4:00 p.m. to report that a female had just sold them one of their stolen vehicle batteries. An Interstate Battery employee then followed the female and a male subject as they left Interstate Battery and drove to a business located at Spartan Square in Salem. Roanoke County and Salem police located Thompson inside a store. She was taken into custody and charged with grand larceny.

The male subject with Thompson was arrested by Salem Police on an unrelated charge.

The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible. Anyone with information is asked to contact Roanoke County Police Detective A. Morris at 540-777-8635.

Submitted by Roanoke County Police