Lucas Brandon South, 38, has pleaded guilty to stealing and scrapping nearly $22,000 worth of window security screens that were supposed to be installed in the Oakleaf Forest housing community in Norfolk.
South was working as a subcontractor last December when a supervisor noticed something wasn’t right. A total of 88 heavy-duty screens—each worth about $250—had vanished from the work site. These weren’t off-the-shelf screens, either. They were custom-ordered from out of state, made of stainless steel and aluminum to protect residents in public housing.
The supervisor followed a hunch and checked out a local junkyard. There, they found some of the missing screens and got a description of the man who had been selling them in batches over a few months. That description matched South. After being confronted by his employer, South admitted to the thefts.
On June 5, South entered a plea agreement for felony grand larceny. He’ll face a sentence based on state guidelines, with sentencing set for August 1.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi was clear about the impact: “Mr. South did not just steal from his employer or from the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. He stole from the low-income residents in public housing who deserve both to feel fresh air and to be able to do so free of concern about someone coming into their homes.”
Fatehi also credited the supervisor for acting quickly and helping police track down the missing materials and the person responsible.