Durham man gets prison time for open-house thefts

A Wake County judge on Monday sentenced a Durham man to prison for stealing jewelry from real estate open houses two years ago in Cary and Apex.

Peter Schieffelin Nyberg, 49, was arrested March 2, 2012, after investigators said he stole more than $25,000 worth of jewelry and silverware from homes in February 2012.

A jury found Nyberg guilty Friday of seven counts of felony larceny.

Real estate agents testified at his trial that Nyberg seemed professional and polished at the open houses and did not elicit any suspicion at the time.

At the time of the crimes, the former business owner has been on probation for failing to pay state income taxes.