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WINTON – Local law enforcement agencies have solved a rash of breaking-and-entering crimes committed last month in Hertford and Gates counties.

Derrick Marcel Barnes, age 52 of Ahoskie, was arrested Dec. 4 on numerous charges.

He is charged with the following crimes that were committed inside the town limits of Ahoskie:

Felony B&E, felony larceny after B&E, and damage to real property that occurred Nov. 19 at the Ahoskie Thrift Store.

Felony B&E, felony larceny after B&E, and damage to real property that occurred Nov. 23 at the Dollar General.

Felony attempted B&E and damage to real property that took place on Nov. 28 at the Ahoskie Food Mart.

In Hertford County, Sheriff Dexter Hayes said his investigators collaborated closely with detectives from the Ahoskie Police Department and the Gates County Sheriff’s Office due to similar break ins in their jurisdictions during the same time period.

That effort led the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office to arrest and charge Barnes with the following crimes:

Felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, and injury to real property for an Oct. 29 break-in at My Deer Watson, a business located at 233 East Modlin Road, Ahoskie. There, Barnes is accused of taking the cash register that contained U.S. currency.

Felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, and injury to real property for a Nov. 24 break-in at The Corner Shop, a convenience store located at 1153 NC 561 West in the St. John community where 90 packs of Newport cigarettes were reportedly stolen.

Hayes said both crimes took place at night and the suspect gained entry to each business by breaking the glass of the front door.

In Gates County, Sheriff Ray Campbell said that Barnes was charged with felony breaking and entering and feloy larceny after breaking and entering on Nov. 24 at the Dollar General store, located on US 13 North.

Barnes was confined to the Hertford County Detention Center under a $125,000 secured bond. He was scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday, Dec. 6.

“I would like to thank my officers along with the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and Gates County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication and hard work in solving these cases,” stated Ahoskie Police Chief Michele Garrett.

Hayes noted that such collaboration between law enforcement agencies in rural areas is vital in solving crimes.

“What we may lack in overall resources is made up by the fact that we work well with the other sheriff departments and town police in our area,” he stated. “It worked extremely well in this case and we were able to identify the person responsible for this rash of break-ins. Thanks to Chief Garrett and her staff and Sheriff Campbell and his staff for helping us solve these crimes.”