Deputies: Iredell man staged break-in at his home

Sheriff’s deputies arrested an Iredell County man after saying they determined he staged a break-in at his home.

Stephen Todd Lipe, 43, called 911 on Friday afternoon and claimed that someone had thrown a brick through the back door of his house, just south of Troutman. Lipe said two handguns, 120 oxycodones and a Kindle Fire tablet were stolen, according to the Iredell County sheriff’s office.

Investigators found that the door Lipe claimed the burglar had used could not be forced open. The sheriff’s office also said Lipe had made similar claims two other times in the past 18 months.

The sheriff’s office said Lipe admitted to making up the break-in. He was arrested and charged with filing a false police report and misuse of 911. Lipe also faces three previous charges of failure to appear in court.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Deputies: Iredell man staged break-in at his home."