The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

August 20, 2010

4 arrested; police: Lock your doors

JAMICÁ C. ASHLEY Staff Writer

TARBORO — A series of break-ins have resulted in four people in custody and more than 17 pending charges.

Quamane Lamont McNair, 21, of 97 Concrete Road, Shetarra Yolanda Hill, 18, of 622 E. Saint John Street, Milton Q. Hopkins, 18, of 1006 Bradley Avenue and Devonta Hill, 17, of 622 E. Saint John St. have all been taken into custody and charged with 14 felony counts of breaking and entering into a motor vehicle, six counts of larceny and two counts of injury to personal property.

McNair, Hopkins and both Hills were tracked after they used stolen credit cards to purchase items from L&L gas station in Battleboro where they were clearly captured on the store's surveillance along with the vehicle they were driving.

"We jumped on it (the case) and got lucky when they used the credit card in Battleboro at the L&L," Sgt. Bruce Edwards of the Tarboro Police Department said. "Fortunately L&L has a great camera system so its shows them all and the car (they were driving).

"They cooperated from there and told us everything they did," continued Edwards.

All of the break-ins reported so far have been in the West Howard Avenue and Clifton Ridge Areas and occurred Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, Lt. Jay Boykin said.

Edwards added that they had done this previously in the Summerfield area a few nights before but their actions earlier this week led to their arrest.

Items taken from the car included electronics, iPods, cash, change, credit cards and firearms.

"These are all being taken as crimes of opportunity from doors being unlocked or windows down," said Boykin. "This can be reduced by locking your car doors even while your car is in your yard.

"A lot of the property has been recovered," Boykin added.

One of the firearms recovered had been reported stolen from Nashville.

The injury to real property charges stem from the four throwing mustard balls – wads of paper towel soaked in mustard – at homes.

Edwards explained that all four admitted to their crimes during interviews including breaking into cars in Greenville near the East Carolina University campus and using the stolen credit cards to go shopping in Greenville.

"Those are more felonies," Edwards said.

The credit cards were also used in Battleboro at an ATM to get cash, which Edwards added, has the four now looking at charges from the Rocky Mount Police Department as well.

The crimes in Greenville stand to bring more charges from Greenville authorities.

As of this morning, three more residents have come forward saying that their property had been taken in a similar fashion.

"If people in the community can please lock up their stuff," said Edwards. "They never broke into a car by breaking a window. If they saw the doors were locked, they walked by."

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