Three Juveniles in Custody, One Suspect At Large Following Durham Vehicle Break-Ins

DURHAM, NC — The Durham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of vehicle break-ins that occurred Thursday afternoon (Dec. 7) along US 70 in Durham County, leading to the apprehension of three juveniles and the recovery of stolen property. One suspect remains at large.

Deputies received reports of at least six vehicle break-ins and the theft of an SUV at local businesses during the noon hour. Witnesses provided descriptions of the suspects and the vehicle they used. A deputy later spotted the suspect vehicle on the 1000 block of Lawson Street in Durham. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to comply, initiating a brief pursuit.

The chase ended near the intersection of Wabash Street and Dayton Street, where four male suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. With the assistance of the Durham Police Department, a perimeter was established, and three suspects, ages 17, 14, and 13, were taken into custody. The fourth suspect remains at large.

The Durham County Sheriff’s Office patrol division is seeking juvenile petitions for the three individuals in custody.

Investigators recovered stolen property from the suspect vehicle, which was reported stolen earlier in Raleigh. Additionally, the stolen SUV from this afternoon’s incident was later located in the Walltown neighborhood. Authorities believe the group may be connected to other vehicle break-ins and thefts in the area.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Durham County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 919-560-0880.

About the Durham County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO)

One of the largest Sheriff’s Offices in North Carolina, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated Durham County. Close to 500 employees work in a variety of positions representing our office, including deputies, detention officers, and civilians. In addition to patrol and criminal investigations, DCSO operates the Durham County Detention Facility, provides courthouse security at the Durham County Courthouse, protects the animals of our County, and serves criminal warrants and numerous civil documents as mandated by State law. Their jurisdiction covers rural Durham County, sections of Research Triangle Park, urban areas within the City of Durham as well as Interstates 85 and 40 connecting “the Triangle.”