An arrest has been made in a December 7 break-in in which cigarettes were stolen and a case Sunday in which more were taken.

The breaking and entering case Sunday at Speed Mart located at Tenth and Hamilton streets led to the arrest of 39-year-old Darian Peebles for the Sunday break-in and the one at Presto earlier this month.

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Bobby Martin said today it is believed Peebles was reportedly going to sell the stolen cigarettes to support a reputed drug habit.

The break in the case came when officers responded to a breaking and entering call at Speed Mart shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Speed Mart is across the street  from the Tenth Street Hardee’s.

Officers noticed a window had been broken out and a suspect had entered the business. 

Further investigation and review of the security footage showed Peebles reportedly removed a brick from his pocket and threw it at a window to gain entry.

Inside approximately 65 packs of Newport 100’s and 65 boxes of Newport shorts in a brown cardboard box were taken.

Officer D. Newsome followed up on information he received during his investigation which led him to develop Peebles as the potential suspect.

Newsome went before a magistrate and applied for a search warrant of Peebles’ residence in the 100 block of Washington Street. The warrant was granted and executed shortly before 2:30 p.m.

Peebles was at home lying on a couch and was detained without trouble.

During the search of the home several items were located that came from a business broken into earlier. 

A large cardboard box with approximately 85 packs of Newport cigarettes was located in the living room between the Christmas tree and the couch.

A backpack was also collected that contained several packs of Newport cigarettes in it as well.  Peebles was charged with breaking and entering of a structure, larceny after breaking and entering, damage to real property, simple possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He received a $5,000 bond with a February 5 court date.

Through this investigation Detective J. Shelburne secured warrants on Peebles for the December 7 break-in at Presto. He was charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods.

He has a court date on those charges set for March 3. No bond information was immediately available.

Martin said in a statement, “This was great work on behalf of Officer D. Newsome and the detective division. The teamwork and coordination helped solve two business breaking and enterings and helped recover items stolen from the business. I  give credit to the officers in Lieutenant Jeff Baggett’s squad and the detectives working with the patrol division. Teamwork between divisions is one of our greatest assets.”