STAFFORD, Va. — Sheriff's deputies in Stafford County are trying to figure out what drove a man to steal more than 200 side-mirrors from tractor trailers over the course of at least three years. The man was recently busted while trying to add to his extensive collection earlier this month.
The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said there have been numerous reports of side-mirrors being stolen from tractor trailers in the area over the last few years, frustrating truckers in the area. Trucks were taken out of service while waiting for replacement mirrors.
Investigators were looking into the thefts and conducting surveillance details, but were unable to crack the case. That is, until last week, when a resident with an AirTag tracker helped solve the crime.
On Nov. 13, a resident reported the side-mirror had been stolen from his Volvo tractor trailer, which was parked on Eskimo Hill Road. The resident had put an AirTag on the mirror and detectives were able to track the stolen mirror to an address on Antietam Loop in North Stafford.
On Nov. 20, detectives staked out the home and executed a search warrant. Inside, detectives found a literal house of mirrors — 206 in all — including the Volvo mirror with the AirTag.
Investigators say the accused thief, 27-year-old Carolos Flores Hernandez, had placed stickers on many of the mirrors with the date and location of the theft.
"We do not know what the offender sees in truck mirrors, but he had quite the collection," the sheriff's office said in a press release.
Right now, Hernandez has been charged with two counts of grand larceny and two counts of tampering with a vehicle, but the sheriff's office is still investigating, and more charges are possible.
Hernandez is being held in jail at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. The investigation is active and ongoing.