UNSAFE AT HOME

Victims of break-ins, vandalism blame teens

T. J. ROYAL

Break-ins, an act of vandalism and alleged aggression from a juvenile have left two Tarboro families feeling unsafe in their own neighborhood.

The Bordeauxs and the Riddles live five miles south of Tarboro, near McKendree Church Road. Between them, they have had almost $5,000 in stolen and damaged property since April, according to reports from the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office.

Amy Bordeaux, 32, and her husband Eddie live with their two children, ages 10 and 4, on White Oak Road. Their house was broken into twice in the past two months, both times while they were on vacation. The experience has Bordeaux and her children distraught.

"(My) kids cry themselves to sleep, they busted out (our) son's window," and now her two children do not want to sleep with the lights off, Bordeaux said.

The first break-in occurred June 13, while the Bordeauxs were at Carolina Beach. A report by Edgecombe County Sheriff's deputies said only $50 damage was done in the incident, to the Bordeauxs' back door window.

The second break-in occurred July 26, while the Bordeauxs were at Emerald Isle. The report said more than $2,700 in goods were stolen, with $100 done to the house.

"We go through the house, we have an old antique shotgun, it was gone. My son's (Playstation 2) was gone, (and someone) took the time to get all the games out of the cases," Bordeaux said. The incident report valued the game system and the 30 games at $1,100.

Two shotguns, a safe with cash, car titles and other documents, assorted jewelry and a stereo sound system also were stolen from the Bordeauxs.

Capt. Al Moseley of the Sheriff's Office said both incidents are pending investigations.

As of today, no arrests have been made in either case.

Bordeaux filed a petition with the state Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention last week, for a harassing phone call made just a day after the second break-in, July 27. In the message, a boy's voice profanely threatens to beat up Bordeaux, her two children, her husband and her husband's teenage son.

"When someone calls and threatens my children, and (two shotguns are stolen), I guess maybe I am scared. I think there's a humongous problem here," Bordeaux said.

When asked about the status of Bordeaux's petition, Maxine Evans-Armwood, chief court counselor for Juvenile Justice in the 7th Judicial District, said she could not confirm or deny whether a juvenile "is in our system."

Wes Riddle, 31, was the victim of vandalism on April 20, with $1,585 done to his family's van alone. Most of the damage to the vehicle was from an egging, Riddle said, and one tire also was slashed.

The Riddles' residence on Cardinal Road was written on with lipstick, and their children's trampoline was slashed and torn, causing $425 in damage.

Riddle, a teacher at South Edgecombe Middle School, said he didn't have enough money to cover costs like the trampoline and the tire.

He also said the vandalism at his house, as well as the break-ins at the Bordeauxs, leave him feeling "not really" safe in his own neighborhood. When he walks with his three children, ages 6, 3 and 17 months, he carries a baseball bat in the stroller.

"If I'm out in the neighborhood, I'm not going to take any chances when it comes to my kids," Riddle said.

In the Riddles' case, two arrests were made on April 22. Jimmy Lee Carmickle Jr., 19, of Sharpsburg, and a 16-year-old Tarboro boy were each charged with one misdemeanor count of injury to personal property and one misdemeanor count of injury to personal property.

The juvenile lives less than half a mile from the Riddles on White Oak Road.

Both were taken to the Edgecombe County Detention Center, but were later released on $1,000 secured bonds each.

Carmickle was scheduled to appear in court in Edgecombe County on Wednesday, but did not show. A warrant was made out for his arrest.

The juvenile is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 24.

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