Durham Man Arrested for Area Burglaries

Shortly after being arrested, police linked the man to another recent crime in the area.

Devon Jacob Withers, 25, of 3311 Shannon Road, 19-D in Durham was arrested Monday at 4 p.m. at 325 W. Rosemary St., reports state. Withers is being charged with two felony counts of first-degree burglary, two felony counts of larceny and one misdemeanor count of larceny, reports state.

Withers was incarcerated at Orange County Jail at 5:30 p.m. on a $40,000 bond, reports state.

Withers was arrested shortly after a burglary that reportedly occurred at 1:17 a.m. Monday at a residence located at 316 W. Rosemary St.

The residence's two inhabitants -- both UNC students -- called police to report that that they saw the suspect attempt to steal a laptop from the residence, said Chapel Hill Police spokeswoman Jane Cousins. One of the victims -- both of whom were at home during the incident -- said she heard a noise that prompted her to investigate, Cousins said.

"She saw a black male in her house holding her laptop, and she yelled for her roommate to come in the room," Cousins said. "(The victims) told (the intruder) to wait there and they would go to the security office."

Cousins said the suspect threw the laptop and ran out of the residence.

When officers arrived at the scene, they couldn't locate him.

Cousins said based on the information the victims provided, officers investigated the incident further Monday.

"The officers put together a photo lineup, and the two victims were able to identify the suspect," Cousins said.

Withers was apprehended Monday afternoon and charged with one count of first-degree burglary and larceny, reports state.

Reports state that when Chapel Hill police arrested Withers, they found two new cordless phones in his possession.

The phones had been removed from their packaging and were contained in a white plastic bag, reports state.

Officers checked Kerr Drug on 109 E. Franklin St. and found two empty boxes matching the phones Withers had, reports state.

Cousins said officers charged Withers with misdemeanor larceny for suspected theft of the phones.

After investigating Withers, police charged him with additional counts of first-degree burglary and larceny for an incident that occurred at 321 W. Cameron Ave. on Saturday, reports state.

Reports state that on Saturday night a suspect entered the residence and took two IBM Thinkpads valued at $3,500 apiece and one pullover fleece valued at $30. The total value of the stolen goods was $7,030, reports state.

Withers had his first appearance at the Orange County District Court in Hillsborough on Monday.

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.