Suspect Identified in Series of Larcenies of Motor Vehicle Parts

Published on August 29, 2024

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, August 29, 2024) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Airport Division have identified a suspect in connection to multiple cases of stolen motor vehicle parts at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Between Sunday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Airport Division officers responded to a series of larcenies in the 5700 block of Old Dowd Road and the 5200 block of Josh Birmingham Parkway. Officers located three BMW model sedans stripped of wheels and tires on the drivers’ side. 

In the afternoon hours of Thursday, August 22, 2024, North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers made attempts to stop a vehicle for speeding and seatbelt violation.  The driver failed to stop.  During the pursuit, the driver identified as Alexander Komthongpane, 33, lost control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway and struck a tree near the intersection of Fred D. Alexander Boulevard and Freedom Drive. He was pronounced deceased on the scene. 

Information gathered from the responding officers, assisted the Airport Division Detectives to identify Mr. Komthongpane as the suspect in the series of larcenies of motor vehicle parts. Detectives were able to determine the BMW wheels on the suspect’s vehicle were taken from the larceny of motor vehicle cases at the Airport.

Mr. Komthongpane was known to officers for his involvement in multiple catalytic converter thefts and larceny of motor vehicle theft cases across the city.

For additional information in reference to this investigation, please refer to the following reports: 20240818-1654-00, 20240819-1503-04 and 20240820-1744-02.

###