Sheriff: Man charged in N.C. restaurant break-in allegedly targeted business multiple times
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WMBF)— Authorities in North Carolina have arrested a suspect after a video showing one of three reported break-ins at a local restaurant this week.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said 37-year-old Jimmy Locklear was arrested and charged in one of the incidents at Melecios Restaurant in Shannon.
Video shows the suspect, alleged to be Locklear, breaking a window early Thursday with a crowbar before slipping through bars and climbing over a booth seat.
The suspect then makes their way to what appears to be a cash register before quickly turning around and leaving.
“He literally just broke in the window, got in and saw there was nothing, and he walked out like it was just a grocery store. Like nothing,” said Marimar Melecios, who owns the restaurant.
Melecios said the break-ins have cost her over $20,000 worth of damage.
“It’s frustrating as a business owner,” she said. “For us, it economically hurts because customers stop going, because they think, like, it’s not a safe place, and sales start going down.”
Melecios also shared a message for Locklear when speaking with WMBF News on Thursday.
“If I can have a chance to talk to him, like, ‘Dude, I’ll hire you.’ You need money? I’ll hire you to come clean my-- wash my dishes. I’ll give you a job. You hungry? I’ll feed you. I will. But...don’t hurt my business,” she said.
Meanwhile, Wilkins said in a statement that Locklear allegedly targeted the same restaurant at least two other times.
Locklear is charged with habitual breaking and entering, breaking and entering and attempted larceny. He also faces a felony probation violation charge.
Wilkins added that the sheriff’s office is reaching out to federal authorities about the possibility of Lockear being charged with a hate crime.
Records show Locklear is being held at the Robeson County Detention Center without bond.
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