Neighbors just north of uptown Charlotte are double-checking their locks as Charlotte-Mecklenburg detectives search for a man they say is tied to a recent string of home break-ins. Investigators have circulated surveillance clips that show the same suspect walking up to houses, lingering at front doors and scoping out entry points, and residents say the alerts have put the area on alert. Police are urging people to secure doors and windows, stash valuables out of sight and call in anything that feels off while they chase down new leads.
Officers have identified the man they are looking for as Chauncey Duncan, and detectives say he appears on surveillance video at multiple burglary scenes, according to WBTV. The station reports one clip shows Duncan standing at a front door and another shows him approaching a different house, with officers saying he has been seen in neighborhoods north of uptown, including along Caldwell Street. “No issues with crime yet in my first three months here,” resident Elliott Wood told WBTV, adding that the recent warnings have prompted neighbors to be more vigilant.
Where detectives say the suspect has been seen
Police say reports involving the suspect have been clustered in residential areas just north of uptown Charlotte, with several sightings near Caldwell Street. Anyone who spots Duncan or has information about where he might be is asked to contact Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward, according to the city’s citizens resources page from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Investigators are also asking anyone with home-security or doorbell cameras in the area to save their video and share relevant clips with detectives.
Suspect's public record
Local arrest listings earlier this year show a Chauncey Duncan booked on charges that included a protective order violation and communicating threats, according to a WCCB mugshots compilation. Police have not said that booking was related to the current burglary investigation, and detectives have not announced any arrests or burglary charges in the ongoing case. For now, they say they are tracking down tips and reviewing video from multiple neighborhoods as they work to build the case.
How neighbors can protect themselves
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department points to basic home-security steps that can make a big difference, including locking doors and windows, keeping valuables away from easy view through front windows or doors and regularly checking footage from doorbell or security cameras, per the city’s citizens resources page from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Residents who capture anything suspicious on video are urged to save the recordings instead of letting systems overwrite them, jot down the time and location and pass those details to investigators or Crime Stoppers. Police say neighborhood watch groups and community apps can also help spread the word quickly when something seems off on a block.
Detectives say the search for Duncan is active and ongoing, and they have not reported any arrests in the burglary series. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers or CMPD. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may lead to a cash reward if they help lead to an arrest, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Officers stress that members of the public should not confront the suspect and should call authorities immediately if they believe they see him.
