Man Charged With 15 Durham Break-Ins

Posted 6:53 a.m. Apr 29, 2001 — Updated 6:53 a.m. Apr 29, 2001

DURHAM — Derek Lerone Utley, 34, of Elm Street, was arrested Friday and chargedwith 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 afternoonand handed out more than 150 fliers asking for information about thebreak-ins.

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

February 9 - 100 block of Pinecrest Road. Jewelry andcash were taken.

February 16 - 100 block of Pinecrest Road. Cash wastaken.

April 2 - 2200 block of Cranford Road. A gun was taken.

April 5 - 2500 block of Perkins Road. A television setand 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 setsand silver were taken.

April 15 - 3400 block of Westover Road. Nothing wastaken.

April 17 - 1200 block of Dwire Place. A briefcase, a cordless drill, and a camera were taken.

April 18 - 2500 block of Wrightwood Avenue. Nothingtaken.

April 18 - 2400 block of Perkins Road. Two cups ofchange were taken.

April 19 - 3900 block of Hope Valley Road. A laptopcomputer and coins were taken.

April 21 - 3200 block of Banbury Way. A chain saw andan electric drill were taken.

April 21 - 3300 block of Devon Road. Nothing taken.

April 25 - 3400 block of Rugby Road. A VCR, a chainsaw, and a CD player were taken.

Utley was also charged with possession of a stolen digital camera, whichwas 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 connectionwith 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 Parrishor 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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