Man charged with looting historic rifles and one-of-a-kind knives worth $70,000 after stalking Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — An Asheville man has been arrested and charged with looting a local store on Patton Avenue in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.

Asheville Police announced in a Nov. 5 news release that Michael William Plummer, 55, was arrested after a thorough investigation. Plummer was located by police on November 1 and charged as a suspect in the theft of historic 1886 Winchester rifles and more than two dozen unique, custom-made knives.

The total value of the guns and knives was estimated at $70,000, police said. The items have still not been recovered, police said.

Asheville police are dealing with increasing looting cases after Helene

APD officers responded to the 600 block of Patton Avenue in West Asheville at approximately 7:44 p.m. on Sept. 28 to investigate a burglary of a business, the release said. When officers arrived, they discovered that the suspect had forced his way in through a basement door and taken the items.

When Plummer was located on Nov. 1, he was taken into custody without incident, police said. Plummer was accused of:

• Criminal offense of burglary and burglary
• Theft after burglary
• crime in an emergency
• Possession of burglary tools

Plummer was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center on $10,000 bail.

Anyone with information about this burglary or any other illegal activity can contact APD at 828-252-1110. Tips can also be sent via the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in the App Store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.