By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

Carrboro Police say a suspect apprehended early Sunday morning after breaking into the Carrboro Laundromat and the Tienda, Taquería y Carnizería Toledo’s on Jones Ferry Road is connected to a string of holiday break-ins.

The suspect, Fernice Anderson Lowry, 30, whose address is listed as the streets of Carrboro, was apprehended by Carrboro police after the Carrboro Laundromat alarm went off and police discovered Lowry in the ceiling above the laundromat.

Lowry allegedly broke into several businesses at the Willow Creek Shopping Center on Jones Ferry Road on at least two different occasions over the holidays by tearing through the businesses’ walls. Police already had a warrant for Lowry’s arrest when he was apprehended early Sunday because of the prior break-ins.

According to Captain J.G. Booker of the Carrboro Police, Lowry faces at least 9 different charges related to the Willow Creek break-ins, plus charges related to the break-ins at the laundromat and the tienda.

In addition, Booker said Lowry could face additional charges.

“There are three other [breaking and entering cases] that I’m aware of … that he is very likely to be the suspect in,” Booker added. “They’ve just got to confirm the evidence.”

According to a police report, police had approached the Carrboro Laundromat early Sunday after the alarm sounded and heard a thumping noise inside. They then checked the doors of both the laundromat and the tienda, which share a building, and found that all were secure.

Behind the laundromat, police found a shoe print at the scene that was similar to prints found at the scenes of the other recent break-ins, according to a police report. In addition, police discovered that a hole had been made in the roof over the tienda.

Police sent a K-9 inside to look for the suspect, but could not locate him.

According to a police report, police then noticed that sheet rock behind the dryers was damaged, and then looked behind the sheet rock above the dryers, where they located Lowry.

According to the report, Lowry “commented that he had nothing to live for and that he would be getting three hots and a cot,” and “said that we were doing him a favor and that if we were going to shoot him then to go ahead and shoot him.”
Police seized a screwdriver, a pocketknife and a hammer from Lowry.

Lowry was arrested and taken to the Orange County Jail, where he is being held on $35,500 secured bond.