Two Durham men are facing a litany of charges in connection with a slew of vehicle break-ins. The incidents took place within two neighboring communities outside Hillsborough's city limits, happening over the course of two days in November, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office - North Carolina.
The two individuals, both 18, victimized residents on Red Hill Lane and Seven Springs Road, peppering the early morning darkness with the clicks of unlocked car doors. The back-and-forth resulted in the theft of a firearm, tools, purses, and even keys with a cash haul amounting to $600. One of the cars, stolen during their illegal exploits, was later discovered crashed and abandoned in Durham. The elder of the two suspects, whose name is withheld due to his juvenile status at the time of the crimes, is currently being held without bond. His associate, Jostin Josue Ramirez-Duarte, awaits the serving of Orange County warrants at the Chatham County Detention Center for separate offenses.
A concerted effort by detectives, inclusive of door-knocking and gathering extensive home security footage, led to the unraveling of the duo's crime spree. “We cannot stress enough how important it is for people to remove valuables from their vehicle every time they leave it unattended. I’ve heard some say they do not lock their doors because they do not want a thief to have a reason to break the windows. Personally, I believe making it easy for others to steal your belongings is just a different costly risk, one that is even greater for those who carry weapons in their vehicles,” Sheriff Charles Blackwood stated on the social media post.
Between them, the charges are heavy: 22 counts of felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, larceny of both a vehicle and a firearm, first-degree burglary to a residence, attempted burglary, and additional misdemeanors for attempted vehicle break-ins and another larceny. Sergeant K. Goodwin, the leading investigator on the case, is calling for anyone with further information to reach out at (919) 245-2918, as the investigation continues to unfold.
