Locked Car Back After Theft

They stole her keys, her pocketbook from her car, and then for some odd reason…locked the car so the owner could not get inside.  An employee of Suncrest Farms stated she returned from break at about 1pm and didn’t return to her car until 3:15.  At that time she realized the keys from her coat pocket were missing, her car was locked, but her pocketbook had been stolen from inside the vehicle.  The victim stated she left the car locked and secured.  Her coat which had the keys in a pocket was kept in the locker room at work.  Since the thief had stolen her keys and locked the car back after the theft, the victim had to contact to dealership to come unlock her car.  Video surveillance will be viewed this week in hopes of identifying the thief.

Stolen from Car in Parking Lot

On Saturday afternoon, a woman’s wallet was stolen from her car while parked in an area parking lot.  The victim stated that arrived at Lowes Hardware about 3:45.  When she returned to her car just 25 minutes later, the wallet had been stolen from the passenger’s seat.  She could not remember if she locked the doors, but police were unable to see any forced entry into the vehicle.  It is believed someone just reached in and stole the wallet.  Again, surveillance video is being viewed to try and ID a thief.  There are no suspects at this time.  The victim has contacted her bank about closing out card and checking accounts.

BBB Tips to Shop Safely Online Continued

3WC News joins the Better Business Bureau in giving you some necessary precautions to avoid fraudulent websites, scammers, and other Grinches who would love to ruin your holidays. BBB recommends 10 tips for shopping online this holiday season to help fight unscrupulous online retailers, scammers and hackers.  We will be sharing these tips with you on 3WC local news this week.  3. Protect your personal information – BBB recommends taking the time to read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t one posted, it should be taken as a red flag that personal information may be sold to others without permission.4. Beware of deals that sound too good to be true – Offers on websites and in unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true, especially extremely low prices on hard-to-get items. Consumers should always go with their instincts and not be afraid to pass up a “deal” that might cost them dearly in the end.

Local Grief Counseling Before Christmas

There is help before the holidays for those locally who are experiencing grief and loss.  Referring to the scripture tells the Body of Christ to, “…bear one another’s’ burdens, and in doing so we fulfill the Law of Christ,” Hospice of Wilkes Regional Medical Center and The Healing Tree Counseling Center are co-sponsoring a grief support group called, “Coping with the Holidays.”  Meetings are every Wednesday in December at 12 noon beginning on this Wednesday, December 7, 2011.  This group is designed for anyone experiencing any kind of loss…loss of job, loss of health, loss of a loved one, divorce…even the loss of a pet.  Co-facilitating the Group will be:  Helen Clark, Bereavement Coordinator Hospice of Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Paul Hugger, Director of Pastoral Care Chaplain - Wilkes Regional Medical Center, and Marge Maycock, Counselor Licensed Professional Counselor.  Wednesday meetings will be conducted at The Healing Tree Counseling Center, on School Street in Wilkesboro. This is the large brick office building located on the left as soon as you turn onto School Street. This support group will be free of charge, but an offering will be accepted to cover the cost of refreshments.

Car Break-In at Y

His car was locked and parked in the YMCA parking lot, but a thief found the car keys in the locker room.  Wilkesboro Police were called to the YMCA regarding the theft.  The victim said the keys were in his pants in an unsecured locked in the men’s locker room.  When he noticed they were missing, he went outside and found that his car had been broken into.  The only thing taken from the car was some cash from the victim’s wallet.  YMCA employees did see a suspicious man in a silver Chrysler van in the parking lot.  Police have a possible name of that suspicious man and charges are pending further investigation.

Assault at Local Restaurant

Charges are pending against a woman for assault at a local restaurant.  Police were called to the Coffee House on Oakwoods Road.  Patrons inside the restaurant stated that a black female came in and started a verbal and physical altercation with the cook and the cashier.  There was also some minor damage to property before the woman left.  The restaurant employees did file with the Magistrate’s office for assault.  It was determined through NC AWARE that the woman has 3 open warrants for assault and property damage including one from a previous incident.  Warrants are to be served on the woman by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department, and her name will be released after the arrest.

Drug Possession Charges

Two were charged with drug possession after a traffic stop in Wilkesboro.  A traffic check was set up on South Curtis Bridge Road by Wilkesboro Police.  A driver who appeared to be impaired stopped at the checkpoint.  Police asked the man, identified as Daniel Warren of North Wilkesboro, if he had smoked marijuana.  He said he had smoked a while ago.  Police then asked if the man had any drugs in the car.  He first said no and then admitted that he did.  Police were given a consent to search.  Marijuana, pills, and drug devices such as rolling papers were found.  A passenger in the car also admitted to having some marijuana.  Police then found a gun under the seat.  The passenger was given a citation for drug possession.  Warren was arrested and charged with 3 counts of possession and carrying a concealed weapon.  He was held in jail under a 1500 dollar bond.

Shopping or Stealing

Oddly enough, it seems that the thief was just “shopping”…so to speak…for a particular item inside someone’s home.  Wilkesboro Police were called to a break-in at a residence on Welborn Avenue.  The homeowner had returned home from work and had discovered the break-in and theft.  It appeared that someone used part of a cement block from the back yard to break out a back window to get inside the house.  There were several items of value inside the residence but only a Playstation 3 was stolen.  The stolen PS3 was valued at 400 dollars and damages to the window are estimated at 500 dollars.  The thief left through the side door and left it standing open.  Police photographed the crime scene and got the serial number of the PS3 from the box provided by the victim.  There is no word on suspects at this time but the investigation is continuing.

Real ID and Fake Check

She used her real ID to cash a fake check.  Wilkesboro Police were contacted by Food Lion on Westwood Lane concerning a phony check being cashed at the store.  The North Wilkesboro Food Lion called the Wilkesboro Food Lion to warn of counterfeit checks from Burger King.  Unforturnately, the warning came after a black female had already cashed a check there for nearly 300 dollars.  There was in-store video of the woman who used her actual driver’s license and finger print to cash the fake check.  So, it wasn’t hard for Wilkesboro Police to identify the woman who passed the bad check.  She, Lakeisha Caldwell of Charlotte, was already in jail.  She was arrested by North Wilkesboro Police on similar charges.  Caldwell was served in the Wilkes County Jail with additional felony charges of obtaining property by false pretense.

NC FEMA Funds For Irene Damage

Three months after Hurricane Irene struck North Carolina, survivors have received more than $67 million in state and federal disaster assistance.  Money from FEMA was used for temporary housing medical expenses, home repair, low interest loans, and disaster recovery.  More than 35,000 survivors contacted FEMA for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people have sought housing assistance from FEMA because their primary home was damaged or destroyed. Other callers may have been interested in disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling or legal aid.   Survivors who did not need FEMA disaster assistance or had additional needs were referred to partner agencies such as the North Carolina Baptist Men, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Small Business Administration.