Stolen TV and Guns

While the homeowner was gone during the day, a thief or thieves broke in and stole a TV and some guns.  The victim on the Baptist Home Church Road left home Monday morning.  When they returned Monday afternoon, they saw that the back door had been forced open.  A 42-inch RCA plasma TV and two .22 single bolt rifles were stolen.  Stolen property is valued over 500 dollars.  There are no leads and are currently no suspects in this break-in.

Stolen in Boone and Used in Wilkesboro

The card was stolen in Boone and used in Wilkesboro.  A man from Deep Gap came by the Wilkesboro Police Department recently to file a report about a stolen bank card.  The man advised that his son lost the bank card in the Boone Walmart.  A report was filed with Boone Police.  However, since the card was used several times in Wilkesboro, the man was advised to also file a report with local police.  The stolen card was used at the Wilkesboro Walmart and at the Wilkesboro Food Lion.  No arrests have been made yet as the investigation is ongoing.

Suspects Seen But Not Identified

Sheriff’s Officials have a description of a couple of suspects in a home break-in at a Wilkesboro home on Buck Road.  The homeowner returned home to find a window broken out of a door.  Once inside, the thieves stole a JVC stereo, gold bracelet, wedding band set, and 5 rings.  Stolen property was valued over 1100 dollars.  Employees at a sawmill across the road from the house reportedly saw two people going in and out of the house.  The two were described as an Hispanic male and a white female.  There is no word on arrests at this time as the investigation is continuing.

Cut Chains to Steal Mountain Bikes

The bikes were chained inside an open garage when they were stolen.  A Moravian Falls resident reported the theft to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department.  A men’s Diamondback, black and gold, mountain bike and a women’s Diamondback blue and purple bike were secured with a cable lock inside the garage.  They were there one night and gone the next morning.  Someone cut the chains to the bikes and removed them from the garage.  The stolen bicycles are valued at 500 dollars each.  There are no suspects.

Rental Property Damaged

A Wilkesboro resident suffered some damage to rental property they own at Pardue Lane.  The victim went to check on the unoccupied residence and found that someone had cut the pipes and electrical wires to the water pump.  The water pump had also been thrown in the well.  Damages are estimated at 400 dollars.  Again, there are no suspects.

Help for NC Small Businesses

The Small Business Taxpayer Recovery Program launched by the NC Department of Revenue and the N.C. Small Business Commissioners Office in July is now helping more than 1,000 small businesses get back on their feet after facing financial hardships during the economic downturn. The program offers penalty and fee waivers, as well as longer-term payment plans to companies that have fallen behind. With a total cost savings of almost $6.8 million in fees and penalties, 1009 businesses are now participating in the program.   “Companies from the mountains to the coast are benefiting from the state’s help during these tough economic times,” said Secretary of Revenue David Hoyle.  Businesses with 200 or fewer employees qualify for the program and must agree to use the counseling services of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) or the NC Small Business Center Network (SBCN).  Both organizations are available to assist with financial planning and other business needs.   The program runs through June 2013.   Interested business owners should contact the department at 1-877-252-3052 and visit the “Information for Businesses” section of www.dornc.com to learn more about eligibility and participation. 

Chiquita Comes to Charlotte

Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that world renowned produce supplier Chiquita Brands International Inc., will locate its Global Corporate Headquarters in Charlotte.  Chiquita expects to create more than 400 jobs over the next three years and invest $14.1 million in the new global headquarters in Mecklenburg County.  “Chiquita looked across America for a place to locate its global headquarters and they chose Charlotte, North Carolina,” said Gov. Perdue.  Chiquita is in final negotiations to locate its new global headquarters at the NASCAR Plaza. While salaries will vary by job function, the overall average wage for the new jobs will be more than $106,000, plus benefits. To help facilitate this expansion, the company has been awarded a grant of up to $2.503 million from the state’s One North Carolina Fund.  One North Carolina Fund grants require a local match, and this grant is contingent upon approval of local incentives.  In addition, the state Economic Investment Committee today voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Chiquita.

More Door Glass Breaking

Maybe we should all get doors without glasses in them.  There have been several reports of home break-ins over the past couple of weeks where thieves gained entrance into the houses by breaking the glass in the windows on the doors.  Such was a case in a report filed by a Wilkesboro resident this week.  The homeowner left about 7:30 Monday morning and returned home just before 3pm.  In the hours they were away from home, someone knocked out the glass in the back door, entered the house, and stole several things.  Stolen property valued at 1300 dollars included two 32-inch flat screen TV’s, a Sony surround sound, 3 DVD players, a Canon camera, and assorted tools.   There are no suspects.

Break-In, Suspect, and Nothing Stolen

In another break-in at a Wilkesboro house, there is a possible suspect but nothing was stolen.  A property owner on Bull Run Drive called the Sheriff’s Department with the break-in report.  The victim said that someone had broken into their trailer by prying open the back door.  However, there was nothing inside the trailer, so nothing was taken.  There were only damages to the back door.  Some neighbors reportedly saw a white male around the property.  Sheriff’s Officials do have a description and name of the possible suspect and charges are pending.

Arrest Made and Stolen Property Recovered

Wilkesboro Police have recovered property and made an arrest in a theft from vehicle that happened earlier this month.  As 3WC has already reported, tools were stolen off the back of a truck belonging to the Town of Wilkesboro.  A town employee called the Wilkesboro Police to report the theft.  The man had parked his truck in a fenced in parking lot on North Collegiate Drive.  It was believed that someone climbed the fence behind the garage, because all the locks were secure on the gates.  Milwaukee power tools valued over 1500 dollars were stolen from the truck.  Then over the weekend, police received a call from someone to whom the thief had tried to sell some of the tools.  Police got a name and number and were able to contact the man with the stolen tools.  The man, Kevin Marlow, Jr., agreed to turn himself in and was charged with felony larceny and misdemeanor trespassing.  Most of the stolen tools were recovered.