‘Tarpoleon Dynamite’: Tarp-Covered Suspect Sought in N.C. Break-Ins

A blue-tarp-covered suspect and SUV linked to store break-ins across multiple counties have become an unlikely social media sensation as investigators work to identify the vehicle and its driver.

By Mark Price

Source The News & Observer (Raleigh)

Nov. 4, 2026

2 min read

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Caldwell County sheriff's deputies are searching for suspects linked to a string of store break-ins across three counties, and surveillance images show a getaway SUV covered in blue tarps.
The unusual vehicle has sparked widespread attention online, where commenters nicknamed it the "TarpMobile" and dubbed a tarp-covered suspect "Tarpoleon Dynamite."
Authorities are asking the public for tips, while online sleuths speculate the tarps may be hiding identifying features of what many believe is a Toyota 4Runner.

Security camera footage shows a suspect and SUV draped in blue tarps linked to a series of Caldwell County store break-ins — Caldwell County sheriff's deputies are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect linked to a string of store break-ins after surveillance cameras captured images of a tarp-covered SUV and similarly disguised driver.

A criminal enterprise in North Carolina has won the attention of social media, after surveillance photos showed the getaway car roams the night wrapped in blue tarps.

The SUV, dubbed the “TarpMobile” on Facebook, is linked to store break-ins in three counties in western North Carolina. The driver has also been photographed wearing the same blue material, resulting in a nickname: “Tarpoleon Dynamite.”

“Do you recognize the vehicle or know who may be responsible? Even the smallest piece of information could help investigators,” the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a social media post.

Hundreds of people have responded to the plea, many of them incredulous that an SUV covered in tarps hasn’t been noticed in traffic at 3 a.m.

“You’re telling me, out of all the counties that this ... car was traveling in, that not one single person or cop thought this was suspicious?” a commenter called Xsta Mac wrote on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.

“I can drive down the road with a tag light out and get pulled over, but no cop seen this ... going down the road?” Kiowa Partin Sr. wrote.

“They probably just broke even on this job with the overhead for the cost of tarps,” Brent Mccrary posted.

“Any store recently sell a lot of blue tarps!?” Diane Keady Albers asked on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.

The consensus among commenters is the vehicle appears to be a Toyota 4Runner, and the tarps were used because something about the body is incriminating.

Photos of suspect were also posted online, showing they were covered up, too, including one appearing to be draped in a shiny metallic poncho that resembled aluminum foil.

“Pretty sure that’s George Clinton from Parliament-Funkadelic,” Joseph Mike wrote.

Caldwell County is about a 75-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.

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