A Greenville man who broke into a neighbor's detached garage last year didn't count on the cameras watching his every move. Dallas Christopher Smith, 41, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary on Monday and was sentenced to 11 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
According to the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office, Smith unlawfully entered a detached garage within the curtilage of the victim's home on April 27, 2025, removing a window covering to get inside. Prosecutors said he intended to steal something of value once inside, as reported by FOX Carolina News.
Cameras Installed After Earlier Thefts Caught Him In The Act
The victim had installed surveillance cameras on the property because of previous theft incidents, and those same cameras captured Smith during the break-in. The footage proved to be the turning point in the case, giving investigators a clear image of the suspect and what he was wearing at the time of the crime.
That detail ended up sealing Smith's fate. Per the same account, law enforcement later apprehended him wearing the identical shirt seen in the surveillance video, an unmistakable match that tied him directly to the scene.
Sheriff's Office Led The Investigation
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office investigated the case that led to Monday's guilty plea and sentencing. Under the South Carolina Code of Laws, second-degree burglary under subsection (B) is classified as a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years, according to the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Smith's 11-year sentence falls within that statutory ceiling. Beyond the sentence itself, further details about the case, including the specific court proceedings, have not been made public.
