WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A man has pleaded guilty to breaking into businesses in Wilmington and stealing from them in October.
Last week, 31-year-old Tiquine Marqueze Smith pleaded guilty to charges related to the break-ins.
The DA’s office said that Smith was arrested after a two-night investigation by the Wilmington Police Department (WPD).
Police responded to an alarm at a restaurant in the University Landing Plaza on S. College Road on Oct. 12 at 2:47 a.m.
Wilmington Police Department (WPD) officers determined someone had robbed the business and damaged another business’s back door in the strip mall.
“The restaurant had surveillance cameras that captured footage of the suspect entering the restaurant wearing a distinctive black sweatshirt with a checkered pattern,” the DA’s Office stated.
Officers were then dispatched the next night, just after midnight, to a break-in at Batteries Plus on Oleander Drive. Footage captured the suspect wearing the same sweatshirt from the night going to the register and removing the drawers.
The DA’s office states that a witness saw Smith walking along Oleander Drive while officers were investigating the break-in, leading to his arrest. He was wearing the sweatshirt captured in surveillance footage.
Smith was sentenced to 29-47 months in prison and was ordered to serve an additional 8-19 months for felony larceny. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
“Thieves who damage property and steal from businesses cause harm to the hardworking members of our community,” said District Attorney Jason Smith. “Due to this defendant’s history of this behavior and the sound investigation conducted by the Wilmington Police Department, the Court was able to hold Tiquine Smith accountable and secure a sentence that is commensurate with the destruction that he caused to these three businesses.”
Smith also had prior convictions for misdemeanor breaking and entering, larceny and assault.
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