EDITOR’S NOTE: The Dillon Herald is featuring unsolved cases from our local law enforcement agencies. Someone in the public may have information about these cases that could help bring those responsible for these crimes to justice. The public is encouraged to report any information that they may have no matter how small or insignificant. The contact information is listed at the end of this article.
By Betsy Finklea
The City of Dillon Police Department is seeking information on a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries between July 2014 through January 2015 that share similarities, but may or may not be related.
On July 7, 2014, PFC Tony Cummings of the City of Dillon Police Department received a call to go to the Rite Aid store, 811 Hwy, 301 North, Dillon, due to an attempted break-in. A store employee told the officer that an air conditioner repairman went on the roof to work on the air conditioning and discovered that they had been tampered with, do he called 9-1-1. Also damaged was an access handle to a door which goes into the building. Detective Jason Turner was called to the scene to investigate.
Sometime between July 15, 2014 and July 16, 2014, Sgt. Ray McPhatter was called to a burglary at Dillon Meat Center, 1320 East Main Street, Dillon. The phone line had been cut on the outside of the building. The suspect(s) removed the siding from the building and knocked a hole in the inside wall on the back side of the building. The suspect(s) cut off the breaker and moved the cameras. The suspect(s) vandalized the ATM machine and took cash from the machine. The suspect(s) tried to get in through the roof, but culd not. The roof had thousands of dollars worth of damage. The office door was damaged. Detective Monroe Herring was called to investigate.
On July 20, 2014, LCPL Ronald Graham was dispatched to Dillon Convenience, located at 813 Suite B Radford Boulevard, Dillon, in reference to an alarm. While he was checking the building, he discovered that the building’s metal siding had been pulled loose and insulation was on the ground near the wood line. He continued checking and found that a hole was knocked in the vacant store where a charitable sweepstakes business had been located. Sgt. McPhatter and PFC Grice arrived, entered the store, and unlocked the sweepstakes door. Once inside they found a hole had been knocked in the wall leading into Dillon Convenience. Sgt. Monroe Herring was called to investigate.
On November 10, 2014, Sgt. Ray McPhatter was called to a burglary at Tiger Mart, 905 Radford Boulevard, Dillon, where the suspect was still inside. LCPL Grice was checking the rear of the building when he saw the suspect running across the parking lot into the woods. The area was searched, but the suspect was not located. The suspect entered the building through a hole he made in the roof. He cut the locks to enter the safe and took cash from the office. He also pulled the ATM from the wall and stole cash. An employee opening the store went to cut the alarm off and saw the suspect opening the ATM. She ran out, locked the door, and called 9-1-1. The phone lines and other wires to the building had been cut. Detective Monroe Herring and Detective Jason Turner were both at the scene.
Between January 10, 2015, and January 12, 2015, a break-in occurred at Patel’s Wine and Spirits, 109 Highway 301 South, Dillon. According to a report by Cpl. Ronald Graham, when the owner opened the store, he found a hole in the roof and ceiling tiles on the floor. Detective Monroe Herring, Detective Jason Turner, and Detective James Hayes all came to the scene.
If you have information about any of these cases, please call the City of Dillon tip line, Detective Jason Turner at 843-495-0945 or Detective Monroe Herring at 843-495-2386.
