By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
Like many crimes, the prevalence of daytime home break-ins in Carrboro rises and falls throughout the year, with most being isolated incidents.
But a forced entry and armed robbery is a rare occurrence in Carrboro. Investigative Sgt. Chris Atack said that in his more than 10 years of service with the Carrboro Police Department, he could remember this happening only three times.
Two weeks ago, David Gerald Walker was placed on Atack’s short list of victims of home invasion and armed robbery in Carrboro, when three men kicked in the door to his home on Pleasant Drive and robbed him at gunpoint.
Walker said he was at home doing laundry with his young son around 8:15 p.m. when he heard a knock at his door.
“They said, ‘Let us in,’ and I said, ‘No,’†Walker said. “I told my son to run and hide in the bathroom, and as soon as he got to the bathroom, they kicked the front door down and had a gun aimed at me.â€
The three men took his money, laptop and cell phone and ran out, leaving Walker and his son untouched. Walker immediately called the police, and three officers, including Atack, responded. Walker said they were initially very helpful.
However, when it came time for the police to follow up, Walker said they were unavailable and didn’t return his phone calls, even when he had information he thought would help them locate his cell phone.
“That was disappointing,†Walker said. “It wasn’t until we had a neighborhood meeting and people in the neighborhood got kind of angry and started calling the police that we got a response.â€
Ginger Guidry, who also lives on Pleasant Drive, said that like her neighbors, she was disappointed with the police response and their lack of communication.
“We never received an email from the police about the incident,†Guidry said, explaining that in the past when break-ins have occurred in the neighborhood, police have sent an email notification. “They said there hadn’t been time to send out the email providing information.â€
While no email was sent, Atack said he personally canvassed the area surrounding the break-in the following afternoon and had a police car patrol the area during the day.
“It can be difficult because people want us to put out a lot of information, but sometimes it doesn’t serve the best interest of the case,†Atack said.
So with news of the break-in spreading throughout the neighborhood, an ongoing investigation and a patrol car watching the neighborhood, Walker was shocked when his house was again broken into, four days later, and his son’s Xbox was stolen.
Walker thinks the same men are responsible. But Atack said that due to a lack of evidence, there is no way to prove the two incidents are related.
Walker believes that if the police had released more information, the second break-in could have been prevented.
“In my opinion, the police need to be giving communities reports of what has been happening,†he said. “The police cannot be there all the time, but the community can be.â€
The case is still under investigation, and while no suspects have been identified, Atack is talking with Chapel Hill police about a robbery that may be related.
“If you are in your house at night, keep your doors locked and shades drawn so that people can’t peek in and see you have something of value,†Atack advised.
“If your sixth sense goes off and you see anything sneaky or suspicious, call us. We would rather come out there for nothing than get there after something.â€
How about a description of the suspects and their mode of transportation? I have also noticed that the very polite Carrboro Police Officers seem to lack adequate investigative techniques. From this article, no Officers canvassed the neighborhood. This has to be incorrect. For this type of crime every effort should have been made to interview all potential witnesses.