Juvenile charged with downtown break-ins

Published 9:48 am Friday, June 22, 2018

Winchester Police have charged a 17-year-old with three burglaries at downtown businesses, including two this week.

WPD Sgt. Tom Beall said the juvenile was charged Thursday afternoon with three counts of third-degree burglary, which is a felony.

Beall said Maddie’s On Main and Jako’s Boutique were broken into Wednesday night or early Thursday morning and change was taken. An estimate of the amount taken was not available, but the glass on both front doors was shattered during the break-in. 

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The owners of Maddie’s, a locally-owned restaurant, and Jako’s, a boutique, posted photos of their shattered front doors Thursday morning on Facebook.

According to Beall, the break-ins are still under investigation and there was not any surveillance footage of the suspects or the break-ins, however, they are being investigated as though they are connected.

Additionally, Beall said the recent break-ins are being investigated in connection with two others that occurred earlier this month on Main Street.

On June 11, the owners of The Prissy Peach Boutique reported someone broke into their property in the early morning hours and stole money. WPD posted surveillance footage from that break-in asking the public’s help identifying the suspect.

The surveillance footage showed the person wearing black jogger-style pants, brown boots and a camouflage hoodie with a large Chevrolet logo across the chest. The suspect is also shown with a piece of red fabric covering most of their face.

WPD Capt. James Hall said previously the suspect was likely responsible for a breaking at the Napa Auto Parts store reported about 7 a.m. June 12. According to the police reports, the suspect broke through a window and took cash.

While no footage of the break-ins as Napa, Jako’s or Maddie’s has been released to the public, police are treating the incidents as if they are connected.

Anyone with information is asked to call the WPD Criminal Investigation Division at (859) 355-7458.

About Whitney Leggett

Whitney Leggett is managing editor of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. To contact her, email whitney.leggett@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0049.

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