Moravian Falls Break-in, Property Damage

Sheriff deputies are investigating a case where a considerable amount of damage was done to personal property inside a Moravian Falls house. David Holzkama says he was sleeping late Friday evening when he was awakened by a loud crash from the living room. He got up and went out to find the room in a shambles, and the kitchen torn up, too. He says he put on some shoes and went next door to call his mother, the owner of the damaged items, and tell her what happened. A man, whose name deputies have not released, followed him over to the neighbor's house. Holzkama says the 38-year old man was obviously drunk, and that he did not see him in the house before he left. There was also trash from his house tracked all along the path to the man's house.

The damage included a grandfather clock, where the glass front was broken out; two lamps and several picture frames; the door glass on the kitchen stove; and heavy damage to the outside of the refrigerator. Together, the damage totals about 16-hundred dollars. Deputies spoke to the other man, who says he had had only one beer to drink that night and was at a friend's house. The case remains under investigation.

Wanted Teen Caught

Sometimes it's the simple things that land a criminal in jail. Like running a stop sign, which is how Wilkesboro police found a Boomer woman who was wanted for kidnapping and assault. Police arrested 19-year old Erica Eller Saturday evening, after an officer saw her run a sign at the intersection of Cedar Lane and Laurel Road. As the officer was running a routine check on her ID while writing the ticket, it was found that a Wilkes county court had issued a warrant for her arrest on August 29th. She was taken into custody without incident according to the crime report. Her car was impounded after several hours, because a friend she called to pick it up did not show up and it was creating a traffic hazard.

Fire Cause: Arson After a Burglary

Authorities are looking for a thief who tried to cover their tracks by setting a home on fire. Fire Investigator Nick Hamby released results of his investigation into the blaze, which happened on the 7th, today. Broadway firefighters were called to the fire on Bens Mill Road about 10-pm that evening. After the fire was put out, the owner realized a gun cabinet had been sitting right at the point where flooring had been burned away, at the south end of the home. The cabinet had a rifle and four shotguns inside when he'd left the house about 6 that evening. His closest neighbor says they didn't see anything out of place during the evening, and deputies have no suspects at this time. Investigation of the break-in and arson continue.

Details of Friday Robbery

Sheriff deputies have released more information about a robbery we first told you about Friday afternoon. According to Country Square Fresh Produce owner Elena Limon, a white van pulled through the parking lot and back up close to the store. A man came in and asked to use the phone. When he was told there was a phone outside he could use, Limon says the man started to walk outside, then appeared to decide to buy a pack of gum. But as she rang up the purchase, the man threw the pack of gum at her, grabbed what he could get hold of in the register, and ran from the store. Limon says he turned north on Highway 18 toward Wilkesboro. He hasn't been seen since. The robber never showed a weapon, and other than throwing the pack of gum at her, never made a direct threat on Limon.

Break-in Traced to Ex-Wife

Deputies have arrested a Wilkes woman who is accused of stealing a pickup load of wood flooring and other items from her ex-husband. 38-year old Rebecca Hamilton was arrested last week after admitting to a deputy she had borrowed a pickup and stolen the flooring, worth 35-hundred dollars, an air conditioner worth about 235-dollars, and a twin bed. Deputies had been called to William Hamilton's home on Arbor Grove Church Road Tuesday morning concerning the theft. He said he'd seen his ex-wife's car in the area about a day before a staged break-in. Authorities say the break-in was staged, because someone broke out a window but it did not appear anyone had actually crawled through the broken-out area. Rebecca Hamilton was charged with theft, along with breaking and entering.

Car Broken Into, Purse Stolen

A Millers Creek woman says a day at work turned into a nightmare for her, after someone broke into her car that was parked in front of the business. Melissa Sampson works at the Children's Center of Wilkes. She was alerted to the break-in by other employees, who say they heard a crash outside, which turned out to be from a window being broken in the car, and they looked out almost immediately. They didn't see anyone around the car. The thief had broken out the front passenger window of the Escort, and taken Sampson's purse along with several other items valued together at a bit over 300-dollars. The items included her drivers license, social security card, and a debit card. While a deputy was investigating the break-in, Sampson's husband called and said the bank had told him the card had just been used at an ATM not far from the scene. Deputies are going through the process necessary to retrieve and copy the security video from the ATM, and the case remains under investigation.

Bad Check Case Involves Authorities in 2 Counties

Authorities are awaiting the results of a handwriting analysis by the State Bureau of Investigation before proceeding in a check forgery case. Wilkes and Allegheny county deputies are cooperating in the investigation, which targets a 32-year old Sparta man. According to Wilkes deputies, the man wrote a check worth more than 140-dollars early this month to Thurmond Grocery. When the store ran the check though, it came back as being on a closed account. Local investigators don't say much about what Allegheny county has found regarding the case, which apparently involves several checks. The man face possible forgery charges, along with a charge of possessing stolen property.

WCC Reports Technology Device Stolen

Officials at Wilkes Community College say a computer display device was stolen from a classroom there last week. Ralph Johnson, who works security at the school, called Wilkesboro Police after an instructor came in for their 6pm class Thursday and found the device missing. It's a Smart Technology Sympodium, worth about 25-hundred dollars. According to the police report, the cable connecting the computer to the monitor had simply been unscrewed, while the thief had cut another cable that connects the Sympodium to the classroom computer. According to the teacher of an 11-am class, the device was in its place during that class. The room apparently remains empty after than class until 6pm. Police say they have no suspects, but continue their investigation.

Tools Stolen from Moravian Falls Driveway

Deputies are investigating the theft of a man's power tools from his van, while he was inside having lunch. Jame Earp says he took a break for lunch around 11 yesterday morning, and put the tools, which he'd been using on a project in his driveway, into the van. When he came back out to finish the job about 1 p-m, he found the van door open and the tools missing. The thief took a cordless drill, two skil saws, a nail gun, and a saws-all, together worth about 650-dollars. He believes he knows who did it, and told deputies the name and home address of that person. When the deputy went to the address, he found the home empty, utilities shut off, and windows broken out. There were signs that someone still lived there, though. The case is under investigation.

Expensive BBQ Grill Stolen

If you happen to see a high-dollar gas grill for the first time at a friend's next cook-out, you may want to ask a few questions. Daniel Tikalosky, who lives on Brushy Mountain Road, says his Jenn-Air Stainless Steel gas grill, worth 11-hundred dollars, was taken from his patio. This grill is a bit different from a standard model, as Tikalosky had built a wooden pull-out shelf into the unit. He tells deputies he had also purchased a full cover for the grill. Deputies are still investigating the theft, which was reported last weekend.