3 teens arrested for rash of break-ins, robberies across Iredell County
Three teenagers accused of multiple break-ins and robberies across Troutman, Mooresville, and Statesville are now in custody, police say.
It started when the Troutman Police Department announced it was looking into a theft at a Dunkin’ location that happened early in the morning on New Year’s Day.
Police said an employee was working on opening duties at the Dunkin’ on North Main Street when she heard glass shatter. The employee fled out of the back of the building, but when she came back she found damage and her car stolen.
TPD said security cameras caught video of three suspects who broke the drive-thru glass window and then went inside the shop. According to the department, the suspects were all wearing masks.
It turned out that similar crimes were recently reported in Mooresville and Statesville.
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A break-in at an Arby’s restaurant in Mooresville was under investigation. Police said thieves broke through a window overnight Tuesday to get inside.
Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with workers who saw the damage.
“I know it’s a rough time that some people are going through, but I think there are better choices you can make,” Beth Burris told Faherty.
Faherty learned that seven Mooresville restaurants in total were broken into within 48 hours. That includes Zaika Indian Cuisine.
“It’s really frustrating because it happened in the middle of the night and we came in at like 5 a.m.,” said Mahesh Kumbadiri, the manager at Zaika Indian Cuisine.
Then, at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Food Lion on Broad Street in Statesville was robbed, according to the Statesville Police Department.
Statesville police said three “unidentified males, all wearing hoodies and masks” confronted a store clerk and forced their way into a cash register. Police said the suspects left in one car together.
The owner of Phifer’s Hot Wings in Statesville said the thieves came through the drive-thru window.
“I hate that it’s kids involved,” said Synetta Ray, owner. “We want this to be a safe haven for everybody. They don’t have to do this. They really don’t. It’s unnecessary.”
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SPD confirmed it was working with police in Mooresville and Troutman “to follow up on any potential connections to similar events.”
Authorities haven’t said what was taken during the break-ins, and the exact amount of cash taken from the register wasn’t determined yet.
On Thursday, Statesville police said three teenagers -- two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old -- had been arrested for the crimes. The trio was taken to the Alexander County Juvenile Detention Center. Their identities have not been released.
It took several law enforcement agencies to make the arrests happen.
Police said on Wednesday, they had found a car involved in a series of Mooresville break-ins at a home on Charles Street. After searching the home, they were also able to link the suspects to a series of break-in cases at Statesville businesses. They interviewed the people inside the home and were able to identify one of them as a suspect in the Food Lion robbery.
Later Wednesday, Statesville police learned the car involved in the Food Lion robbery had been stopped by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police after a brief chase. Three suspects were taken into custody and the car was found to have been reported stolen during the break-in at the Troutman Dunkin’.
“It was very important for all the surrounding agencies to work together ... realized we were working with the same individuals,” said Chief David Onley, Statesville Police Department. “They’re young kids, 16, 17. At that age you really don’t think about what you’re doing.”
Investigators from the Statesville and Mooresville police departments interviewed the three suspects in Charlotte, who were linked by their clothing to the Food Lion robbery. One of the suspects also confessed to being involved in 10 breaking and entering cases at restaurants in Statesville and 10 others in Mooresville. The crime spree happened from Christmas Eve 2023 until Jan. 3, 2024.
Additional charges against the teens may be pending in other jurisdictions, police said.
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