WINTON – For the second time in less than four months, a residence here was the scene of a breaking-and-entering (B&E) and larceny.

The lone difference between the Feb. 18 and June 4 crimes was that a suspect was arrested.

Ronnie Nelson Wilkins, 27, of 25 Little Island Road, Eure, was taken into custody by Winton Police Chief Steve Mize and charged with both B&E’s and larcenies.

For the June 4 crime, Wilkins stands charged with four felonies – B&E, larceny, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and possession of burglary tools. The handgun he possessed was allegedly stolen from the residence. He was also charged with misdemeanor damage to real property.

Mize said he received a call at 8 a.m. on Wednesday in reference to a suspicious vehicle parked behind the Masonic Lodge. When he responded to the scene, Mize said he noted that the residence (203 East Brickel Street) adjacent to the Masonic Lodge was the same one victimized in the Feb. 18 B&E.

“I checked the home, finding the back door ajar, so I positioned myself to see who may come out,” Mize said. “After just a few minutes, I saw a person exiting the home carrying a laundry basket containing several items.”

Mize immediately took that person, later identified as Wilkins, into custody.

“After gaining some information, those facts led me to believe that Mr. Wilkins was the person who broke into that same home on Feb. 18 at which time six guns were reported stolen,” Mize said. “That led me to file felony B&E and larceny charges against Mr. Wilkins for the Feb. 18 break-in.”

Wilkins was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a combined $100,500 secured bond for the charges stemming from both crimes.

He is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Friday in Hertford County District Court.

Mize added that Wilkins was just recently released (May 28) from the Hertford County Jail where he served a 52-day term for misdemeanor larceny and resisting a public officer.