Local News

Man Charged With 15 Durham Break-Ins

Posted April 29, 2001 2:53 a.m. EDT

DURHAM — Derek Lerone Utley, 34, of Elm Street, was arrested Friday and charged with breaking into 14 homes and one church in the Hope Valley and Duke Forest neighborhoods during the past three months.

Thirteen of the break-ins occurred in April and two were reported in February.

Stolen items included cameras, television sets, jewelry, silverware, guns, and a VCR.

Investigators canvassed the Hope Valley neighborhood Thursday afternoon and handed out more than 150 fliers asking for information about the break-ins.

Utley was arrested Friday afternoon on Elm Street and charged Friday night with the following break-ins:

  • February 9 - 100 block of Pinecrest Road. Jewelry and cash were taken.
  • February 16 - 100 block of Pinecrest Road. Cash was taken.
  • April 2 - 2200 block of Cranford Road. A gun was taken.
  • April 5 - 2500 block of Perkins Road. A television set and cameras were taken.
  • April 10 - 2200 block of Cranford Road. Coins, jewelry, and a video camera were taken.
  • April 11 - 3900 block of Dover Road. Television sets and silver were taken.
  • April 15 - 3400 block of Westover Road. Nothing was taken.
  • April 17 - 1200 block of Dwire Place. A briefcase, a cordless drill, and a camera were taken.
  • April 18 - 2500 block of Wrightwood Avenue. Nothing taken.
  • April 18 - 2400 block of Perkins Road. Two cups of change were taken.
  • April 19 - 3900 block of Hope Valley Road. A laptop computer and coins were taken.
  • April 21 - 3200 block of Banbury Way. A chain saw and an electric drill were taken.
  • April 21 - 3300 block of Devon Road. Nothing taken.
  • April 25 - 3400 block of Rugby Road. A VCR, a chain saw, and a CD player were taken.

    Utley was also charged with possession of a stolen digital camera, which was taken during an April 22 break-in to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3639 Chapel Hill Road.

    Warrants are pending against 35-year-old Darryl Lee Brown in connection with the break-ins.

    He is currently wanted for a February 26 break-in to Toyota of Durham on Chapel Hill Boulevard. Utley was charged with the Toyota of Durham break-in that night.

    Anyone with information on Brown's whereabouts is asked to call Investigator Ben Parrish or Investigator Alton Tyndall at 560-1020, or CrimeStoppers at 683-1200. CrimeStoppers will pay a reward of up to $ 1,200 for information leading to an arrest.

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