Break-ins on the Rise in Downtown Chapel Hill

Katrina Ryan said someone broke into her Sugarland bakery through the front window.

“We were broken into the fourth day we were open,” she said.

P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille on the corner of Rosemary and Henderson streets was broken into twice over the last few weeks. Each time, all that was stolen were stamps and loose change.

“He (the burglar) did have the opportunity to take much more. Wine, Red Bull, tools and all that we have here,” restaurant owner Ryan Scarano said.

Ryan said nothing at all was stolen from her Franklin Street bakery.

Chapel Hill Council Member Bill Thorpe said the only way to cut down on break-ins is to toughen sentences.

“Don't sit there and give them community service, a slap on the hand. Make sure they are punished,” he said.

Ryan said she would like to see more street lights in downtown Chapel Hill to help deter crime. Thorpe said he believes extra light would not stop these crimes from happening.