NORTH CAROLINA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINESSES Hickory Daily Record Area men charged in downtown break-ins

Area men charged in downtown break-ins
Investigators able to recover some stolen property
BY JENNIFER MENSTER
Record Staff Writer
Saturday, March 11, 2006


HICKORY -- Two men were charged Friday afternoon in the break-ins at five downtown Hickory establishments and one northeast Hickory business.

Police believe Jonathan Reid, 38, of Morganton, and Randy Ussery, 41, of Hickory, are responsible for the thefts.

Reid is charged with felony possession of cocaine, breaking and entering and possession of stolen property.

Ussery is charged with felony possession of cocaine, breaking and entering and possession of stolen property.

Bond was not available at press time. Other charges are pending, said Hickory Police Lt. Thurman Whisnant.

The eight break-ins were reported between March 2 and last Tuesday, police say.

The following establishments were broken into twice: Patrick, Harper, Dixon, LLP, on Second Street, NW, and First Presbyterian Church on Second Avenue, SW.

Bryce Thomas Associates, on First Street, NW; attorney Curt Vaught’s office, on First Avenue, NW; Berry & Clark Associates on Main Avenue; and Advanced Computer Tech., on Cloninger Miller Road, NE, were broken into once.

At all five places, computers were stolen. According to police reports, the thieves stole more than $30,000 in goods. Investigators have recovered some of the stolen property, Whisnant said.

jmenster@hickoryrecord.com 322-4510 x5409 or 304-6916

The Hickory Police Department continues to investigate the downtown break-ins. More details should be available early next week.

Investigators say it’s possible more people could be involved and the two suspects arrested could be charged with other crimes.

Jonathan Reid and Randy Ussery could appear in district court as early as next week.