The theft of two vehicles, one a car-jacking, and a chase landed a Conover man in the Catawba County jail.

Keith Allen Willis, Jr., 39, was apprehended following a multi-county vehicle chase after committing two robberies, stealing two vehicles and attempting to steal a third in Catawba County between Friday and Sunday.

The first of the incidents occurred in the city of Hickory Friday afternoon (Nov. 6th). A person, now identified as Willis, stole a truck from a business in northeast Hickory. He then traveled in that vehicle to a gas station in the town of Catawba, where he attempted to steal another vehicle from a man in the store parking lot. That man fought with Willis who fled on foot prior to law enforcement arrival. Willis's identity was still not known at that time.

Sunday morning (Nov. 8th) around 10:15 AM, a woman was approached by Willis in the parking lot of a gas station located near Oxford School Rd and I-40. Willis, armed with a knife, stole and fled in that vehicle.

Catawba County Sheriff's Office investigators, following leads from the two gas station robberies, developed Willis as a suspect and were in the process of seeking warrants for his arrest when patrol deputies spotted Willis on Springs Rd. in the vehicle stolen Sunday morning. Deputies chased Willis, who fled into Alexander County before being apprehended.

Willis was charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, two counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Felony Fleeing to Elude Arrest, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Possession of Stolen Goods as well as Reckless Driving and Driving with a revoked license.