Orange County Courthouse vandalized

Hillsborough, N.C. — Vandals broke into the Orange County Courthouse early Thursday and damaged several offices, authorities said.

Authorities received a report of a suspicious man outside the courthouse at 1:10 a.m. but Hillsborough police checked the building and found nothing, said Capt. Charles Blackwood of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Courthouse workers found several offices vandalized when they showed up for work Thursday morning, Blackwood said. Desk drawers were pulled out, and papers were thrown about the offices, he said. The only item reported missing was a pack of cigarettes from a clerk's desk, he said.

The vandals got into the courthouse through a window at the front of the building. They were able to pull the storm screen off and force the window loose, Blackwood said.

Investigators plan to review video from courthouse security cameras to develop leads in the case, he said.