Suspect Sought in Home Break-In

There is a suspect in a home break-in at a Boomer residence and the Sheriff’s Department is investigating.  The victim called to report the break-in on Monday.  According to the Sheriff’s Department report, someone attempted to pry open the back door to the residence.  When they were unsuccessful, they removed the A/C unit from a back window to get inside the home.  Two LCD TV’s (a Sanyo and a Zenith) were stolen along with some jewelry.  Stolen property is valued at 2400 dollars.  Damages are estimated at 200 dollars.  Again, Sheriff’s Officials have the description and name of a possible suspect.

More Stolen Heat Pumps

Is it because we’re getting closer to winter time and colder weather or is it because they want the copper from inside?  I suppose only the thieves know why heat pumps are such a popular item right now.  Two more reports of stolen heat pumps have come in to the Sheriff’s Department since Saturday.  In the report, a woman who now lives in Jonesville came by to check on an unoccupied residence she owns in Roaring River.  The  house had not be broken into but the heat pump had been stolen.  The unit is a Trane and is valued at 900 dollars.  Then a McGrady resident came home to find his heating unit missing.  Again, the Trane heat pump, this one valued at 1500 dollars, had been stolen.  There is a possible suspect in at least one of the thefts and charges are pending further investigation.

Home Break-In and Moved Security Cameras

There were security cameras that the thief or thieves turned upward to obscure the view of the home break-in.  Sheriff’s Deputies were called to investigate the breaking and entering of a weekend residence in Millers Creek.  According to the owner who lives out of town, a serviceman with Duke Energy discovered the break-in and called the homeowner.  When he arrived, he found the front door had been kicked in and items stolen from inside the residence including two 32-inch flat screen TV’s and a Pioneer radio.  The power meter box had been damaged and power was off to the house for a while.  Grocery items inside the refrigerator were spoiled due to the power outage.  Stolen property is valued at 1200 dollars.  Damages are listed at 1300 dollars.  Again there were several security cameras around the property that had been turned upward.  However, Sheriff’s Officials will be reviewing the video for any suspect information concerning the break-in.

Took Her Car But Left Their Tag

OK, they stole her vehicle but left an unknown license tag in her yard.  In a report filed with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department, a North Wilkesboro woman called Tuesday morning to report the theft of her Jeep.  The vehicle, a 1993 Jeep Cherokee, was parked at her residence at the time of the theft.  The Jeep was left unlocked with the keys inside it.  The vehicle is green and has damage to the driver’s side door and a Panthers’ tag on the front.  The stolen vehicle is valued at 2000 dollars.  When the woman discovered that her Jeep had been stolen, she also found a license tag in her yard.  Sheriff’s Officials ran the tag and it came back as a Dealer Tag belonging to Empire Nissan.  There is a possible suspect and charges are pending.

Events Today, This Week, & This Month for Seniors

Wilkes Seniors are reminded of events happening this week.  Today, Sept. 21th at 11:15 Wanda Rumple the County SHIIP Coordinator will speak about Annual Enrollment Period date change, Low Income Subsidity qualifications, and Changes in Prescription Drug Plans in 2012.  The presentation will be at the Fairplains BROC Meal site.  This same presentation will also be held on Sept. 29 at 11:30 am at the Maple Springs Community Center.  Then later this week on Friday, Sept. 23th at 2:00pm, in recognition of Fall Prevention Week and to help bring awareness to the topic, a Falls Prevention presentation will be  held at the Ronda Town Hall by United Hospice and the Senior Center.  On Sept. 28th the Senior Center will have open house and the public are invited to come tour the facility.

Congresswoman Foxx Co-Sponsors Bill to End Congressional Pension

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is the lead cosponsor of new legislation to end the congressional, defined-benefit pension program.  The legislation, H.R. 2913, prohibits members of Congress from participating in the federal government’s pension program.  “Taxpayers are looking to Congress to cut spending and halt the growth of the national debt,” Foxx said. “Congress needs to lead by example.. . Ending the congressional pension shows taxpayers that Congress is serious about getting our fiscal house in order.”   Foxx went on to say, “Winding down congressional pensions will illustrate that Congress is willing to shoulder the same kind of cuts that the rest of the federal government faces.  This is the kind of leadership Americans expect of their representatives.”  Foxx also voted this year to reduce congressional staffing and office budgets by approximately $80 million, by voting for H.R. 1473 and H.R. 2551.  H.R. 1473 ($55 million 

Senator Hagan on President's Jobs Proposal

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) commented this week on the President’s proposed plans to create jobs and to reduce the deficit.  “Last week, I stood with 36 Republican and Democratic Senate colleagues to urge the 'Super Committee' to 'go big' on deficit reduction," said Hagan.  “On my recent budget listening tour across North Carolina, I heard over and over again that Washington needs to put the nation's fiscal future ahead of current partisan game-playing.”  Hagan went on to say her bottom line is unchanged and that she will work with anyone in Washington to achieve practical, bipartisan solutions to help jumpstart the stalled American economy and create jobs.

Blew Past a License Check Point

An unknown white male blew past a license check point last week and charges are pending including assault with a deadly weapon.  According to a report filed with the Wilkesboro Police Department, officers were conducting a license check last week on Hwy 268 West when a dark color Dodge Neon approached the check point.  The car was in the middle of the road and appeared to be slowing to a stop.  When officers started toward the car, it suddenly sped up and officers had to jump out of the path of the vehicle to keep from being hit.  The driver appeared to be a slim, white male with facial hair…possibly a goatee…and was driving a late 90’s model Dodge Neon.  The car was very loud and officers believe it did not have a muffler.  They searched the area for the car following the incident but were unable to find it.  Again charges against the driver are pending for resisting an officer, aggressive driving, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Two Incidents of Stolen Steal Beams

Either some thieves locally are planning on doing some construction work or they are really going to cash in at a scrap metal facility.  Two different reports of stolen  steel beams came in to the Sheriff’s Department over the weekend.  In the first report, a Hays resident reported that a 26-foot and 28-foot steel I-beam were in the weeds next to the creek off Dehart Community Center Road.  The owner was going to use them to build a private bridge.  The victim stated that the metal I-beams, valued at 500 dollars apiece, were heavy and would require equipment to move them.  There is a contracting company burying cable next to their property with equipment that could have been used to move the stolen steel beams, but the workers were not scheduled to be back until this week.  Then on Sunday, the Sheriff’s Department received a second report from someone remodeling a house in Moravian Falls.  The man stated that 2 8x10 metal columns, 2 10-foot steel beams, and 6 10-foot L-shaped black iron columns were stolen from his property.  These black iron  or rod iron were antiques and were made special years ago for his father.  Stolen property is valued at 5500 dollars.  Also 3 old vehicles at the same location had the hoods raised as if someone planned to come back for them later.  There are currently no suspects in either theft but the investigations are still underway.  If anyone saw steal I-beams or a load of steel beams and columns being moved over the weekend in the Hays or Moravian Falls area, you are asked to call the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department at 903-7600.

Tracking a Stolen Cell Phone

Wilkesboro Police and AT& T are in the process of trying to track down a stolen cell phone.  Modern technology is amazing and hopefully, will be a real problem for a local thief.  When cell phones are activated, they can be traced to the location of the person using the phone.  In the case of a stolen phone, a Wilkesboro woman is hoping the thief will make a call from her cell, so authorities can track it down.  The woman was shopping at Kohl’s over the weekend and left the Apple Iphone 4 near one of the dressing rooms.  When she realized it was missing, she called the store, but the cell phone was gone.  Police have viewed video surveillance inside the store and are working with the cell phone carrier AT& T to determine who stole it.  Charges are pending further investigation.  The phone is valued at 600 dollars.