N.C. cops look for leads in rash of fast food store robberies

In Elizabeth City, two, tall, lean black males in ski masks robbed McDonald's at gunpoint early Thursday morning and robbed Little Ceasar's Pizza at closing on Friday night.  Men fitting the same description robbed a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Tarboro late Tuesday night and a Kentucky Fried Chicken in New Bern late Saturday night. A Bojangles in Snow Hill was robbed Monday. Several fast food restaurants in eastern North Carolina have been similarly robbed in the last three months. 

Because of the string of robberies, Bojangles, based in Charlotte, has teamed with Crimestoppers in Pitt, Greene, Wilson, Martin and Beaufort counties to offer up to $10,000 in total rewards leading to an arrest and conviction.

Most of the robberies come at closing time or early morning.  Police offer the following tips to restaurant owners and employees:

Do not leave the back door open when taking out the trash. Be aware of surroundings. Pay attention to details such as clothing, shoe styles and color, body types, etc. Do not make cash deposits at the same time every day. If necessary, call for a police officer to serve as an escort.

DARE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Burglary:  On November 24th, 2011 in the early morning hours a residence on Colington Creek Drive (in the Baum Bay subdivision between KDH and Colington) was broken into. Collectable coins, silver certificate bills, several early series US stamps, and banknotes of varying denominations were stolen.

Multiple Vehicle Break-ins:  On November 29th, 2011, the Dare County Sheriff's Office took 30 individual reports for vehicle break-ins.  The break-ins occurred on Creek Road and Martin's Point Drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m.  All of the victim's vehicle's were unlocked, and in one instance a garage was entered to access the vehicle.  The Sheriff's Office is requesting citizens report suspicious activity to 911.  Anyone with information about these break-ins is encouraged to call Crime Line or the Sheriff's Office directly at 475-5980.

Not only does Dare County need your help with the various crimes published in Crime Line, but there is a persistent problem with the sale and use of illegal drugs that requires the public's help to combat. Illegal drug use and addiction are often the root cause of domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, and health issues. Illegal drugs are a "gateway" to larger problems, including gang activity and property crime.

If you have information about drug-related activity, please call Crime Line or your local law enforcement agency.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Line or the Dare County Sheriff's Office at 475-5980.

DUCK

Residential Burglaries:  On January 6th, two residences on Plover Driver were discovered broken into.  Both houses had flat screens and audio/stereo equipment taken. A black Pontiac early 2000 model was seen leaving one of the houses at 3:30 in the morning.

Multiple Residential Break-ins:  On Sunday, December 18th, 2011, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Duck PD officers discovered a residential break in on S. Snow Geese Drive. Further investigation revealed another residence had been broken into and attempts were made to break into three others (all on North and South Snow Geese Drive).  Electronics were removed from one of the residences where entry was made.  Anyone with information about these burglaries is requested to call Crime Line, or the Duck Police Department directly at (252) 599-1057.

Hit and Run Fatality: Duck PD reports a Hit and Run Fatality on October 13th, 2010, around 7:30 PM. The female victim was struck and killed by a vehicle on Cook Drive.  The striking vehicle was last known to be traveling west on Cook Drive toward NC 12 (area of the Blue Point Bar and Grille). The vehicle is described as silver or grey with possible damage to the right and front end of the vehicle. 

Anybody with information about this incident is strongly urged to contact Duck PD directly at (252) 261-1112.  Anonymous tips may also be sent to Crime Line by phone (252) 473-3111 or the tip sheet provided under "anonymous tips" button above.

Anyone with information about crimes in Duck should contact Crime Line or the Duck Police Department at (252) 261-1112

KITTY HAWK

Business Breaking and Entering and Larceny:  On January 3rd, 2012, Atlantic Realty in Kitty Hawk reported a business breaking and entering that had occurred during the previous night.  Suspects entered the business through the rear door. Several items were taken including computers. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact Crime Line or the Kitty Hawk Police Department directly at (252) 261-3895.

KILL DEVIL HILLS

Business B&E:  On December 21st, 2011 at 5:00 a.m. Kill Devil Hills officers discovered a break in at the Outer Banks Chrysler dealership.  The thieves broke in through a window and stole a cash box from a locked drawer.  The incident likely occurred sometime between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. 

Burglary:  On December 18th, 2011, at approximately 8:30 p.m., a residential burglary was discovered in the 300 block of E. Martin Street.  The rear door of the residence was forced and a 19" flat screen Sanyo was stolen. 

Larceny of Firearm:  A High Point 9MM SN: P1329043 pistol was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 200 block of Quail Lane at the end of September.  The slide is blued steel and the frame is black polymer.  The victim’s passport and his USCG MMC vessel pilot's license was also stolen.

Anyone with information about crimes in Kill Devil Hills should contact Crime Line or the Kill Devil Hills Police Department at (252) 449-5337.

NAGS HEAD

Residential B&E and Firearm Larceny:  On November 23rd, 2011, a residence in Old Nags Head Cove was broken into and several items of value were stolen including jars of coins and some silver dollars.  Also taken were six firearms, described as follows:

Browning BPS 12ga Pump action, black

Benelli SBE 12ga auto, camo color with shadow grass finish

Savage 12ga over and under, brown

Remington 870 20ga youth pump, brown

Remington 870 12ga pump action, brown

Remington 700 30/06 rifle .30cal, brown

Anyone with information about this burglary or the

location of the stolen property is encouraged to call Crime Line or the Nags Head Police Department at 441-6386.

Anyone with information about crimes in Nags Head should contact Crime Line or the Nags Head Police Department at (252) 441-6386.

MANTEO

Anyone with information about crimes in Manteo should contact Crime Line or the Manteo Police Department at 252-473-2069.

PARK SERVICE

Arson:   On Tuesday December 13, 2011 about 5:00AM the Buxton Volunteer Fire Department and Rangers were dispatched to structure fires located in two separate locations. One location was the Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Site Parking lot and the other location was the Buxton Beach Parking lot, about 700 feet from each other. The structures on fire were three port-a-jons and the wood fence enclosure at the first location and two port-a-jons with wood fence enclosure at the second location. All structures were completely destroyed. The port-a-jons are provided and serviced by a contractor, the estimated value loss  is about $7500 to the contractor and about $1300 to the NPS for the wooden enclosures. No suspects have been identified and investigation is continuing.  Cause of fire is suspected arson.  Any information about these fires can be submitted through Crime Line, or by calling David Carter, District Ranger directly at 252-475-8326.

Anyone with information about crimes on Federal Property should contact the Park Service through Dare Central at 473-3444.