E-policing report for Nov. 2

The Rocky Mount Police Department issued the following e-policing report on Monday, Nov. 2:

Monday, Nov. 2

9:46 a.m.

Residential Breaking and Entering

227 Clayton Street and 229 Clayton Street

Suspect: Jerel ONeal Knight, 23, of Rocky Mount.

RMPD units are on scene investigating a residential breaking and entering on Clayton Street. The house was occupied at the time of the incident. The suspect made entry through back window and left residence on foot upon observing an occupied residence. No items reported stolen at this time. An attempted breaking and entering also occurred at 229 Clayton Street prior to the incident at 227 Clayton Street. Officers and Investigators searched the immediate area to include the Amos Street Park. A RMPD Canine Unit conducted a search for the suspect and officers apprehended the suspect, Jerel ONeal Knight, near Haggerty Trail, within 45 minutes of receiving the breaking and entering call. Knight will be charged with both cases.

1:59 a.m.

Commercial Breaking and Entering

4113 Sunset Ave. - Dollar General

Suspect(s): Two Unknown Suspects

Officers responded to an alarm call at Dollar General. Upon arrival, officers observed the front glass window to the business had been broken. A K-9 track was conducted and ended at Layola Ave. An employee of the business responded and viewed the store surveillance where neither the gender nor race of the suspects could be determined at this time. It was later determined that the suspects cut several wires in an electrical box at the rear of the business. Officers also discovered that the suspects had tried to pry open the rear door of the business. Nothing was taken from the business. No witnesses.

Deterring Business Related CrimesCrimes can be deterred at your business by improving visibility, installing alarms, installing surveillance cameras, improving lighting, improving property conditions and installing signs. See below for crime prevention tips on how to keep your business from being a crime target.

Visibility. Good visibility in and around the business creates a risk of detection for intruders, and a perception of safety for persons legitimately on the premises.

• Provide two-way visibility in areas open to the public.
• Keep windows and counters clear.
• Do not allow windows and counters to be cluttered with signs, displays, plants, and other items.
• Use glare-proof glass to enable occupants of a lighted building to see out at night.
• Alarms. Install a reliable audible and monitored alarm system with a means of checking the status of the system.
• Harden the telephone line that sends the alarm signal to the alarm company so it cannot be cut from the outside.
• If it is cut, have the system send an alarm to the alarm company. If the telephone line is contained in an outside box, the box should be alarmed or locked with a shielded padlock.
• The system could have a wireless backup that would send the alarm if the telephone wire is cut.
• The system should also have a fail-safe battery backup. Check the batteries periodically and replace them if necessary.

Surveillance Cameras. Criminals may be deterred from committing a crime if they know that their actions are recorded on a camera. They may be prevented from committing a crime if preventative measures can be taken soon after they are observed entering your property or business.

Install cameras to record people entering and leaving the business, and committing a crime in the business.

• Cameras should be mounted where they cannot be covered or tampered with.
• Dummy cameras should not be used because most criminals can tell the difference between real cameras and dummies.
• Know what is happening outside your place of the business. Look for anyone watching the store, or loitering in or around it.
• Install cameras to record people and vehicles in your parking lot.
• Install signs advising that the business is being monitored by surveillance cameras.

Lighting. Good lighting can assist in deterring crime at your business.