Gregory Walter Vincent Upchurch

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DOBSON — A Pilot Mountain teen has been charged with multiple felonies after he was discovered allegedly inhaling noxious chemicals on property owned by a State Bureau of Investigation agent.

The charges allege that the 19-year-old is responsible for a rash of break-ins in the Lowgap area of the county earlier this month.

According to Sheriff Graham Atkinson, Gregory Walter Vincent Upchurch, of 212 Crestwood Drive, was discovered on Mountain View Drive in a vehicle “huffing” gasoline on Feb. 6, when he was seen by the property owner.

Huffing is the act of concentrating and inhaling toxic fumes to induce intoxication.

After discovering Upchurch on his property, the homeowner reportedly detained him until sheriff’s deputies arrived at the location.

“When the patrol and detective divisions began working on the case, they determined that (Upchurch) had been involved in a series of home and vehicle break-ins that night,” Atkinson said.

All of the alleged break-ins and thefts were in the Mountain View and North Morgan Road areas of the county, and Atkinson said all of the property taken in the crimes was recovered and has been returned to the owners.

Upchurch has been charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, four counts of larceny from a motor vehicle, two counts of damage to property, three counts of possession of stolen property, larceny after breaking and entering, inhaling toxic fumes and the possession of a toxic substance.

He was booked into the Surry County Jail under a $26,000 secured bond.