AHOSKIE – If you first don’t succeed….try, try again.

That logic landed an Ahoskie man behind bars.

Roger Lee Hess, 40, of 224 North Maple Street was charged earlier this week by the Ahoskie Police Department with breaking and entering, and larceny. Reportedly, he failed at one attempt to break into an Ahoskie business, but succeeded in pulling off another crime….of course until he was caught.

According to Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh, his office was alerted, via an alarm at 4:55 a.m. on June 11, to a possible illegal entry at Anchors Insurance Company, located in the 700 block of Sunset Street. APD officers James Powell and Jeffrey Woodard responded to that location.

“They were unable to find where entry was made into that business, but did notice a single brick lying on the ground near one of the windows of that business,” Fitzhugh said. “They did however notice a man walking in the general vicinity. The officers spoke to that individual, making note of his name and address and gaining a clothing description, and sent him on his way due to the fact there was no actual break-in at that location.”

Less than one hour later, a routine patrol on Church Street discovered a broken window at the Ahoskie Public Library. A listing of the missing items was later determined by the library staff. There was also similar evidence (a single brick) recovered at the library that matched the attempted illegal entry at Anchors Insurance.

Armed with that information, APD Officer Johnnie Hoggard returned to Anchors Insurance, after they had opened that day for business, to view the recording of a security camera there.

“He was able to clearly see that an individual matching the description of the man interviewed earlier that morning was attempting to use a brick to break a window at Anchors Insurance in an effort to gain entry,” Fitzhugh said. “The break-in at the library was made by breaking a window with a brick.”

Armed with warrants, the Ahoskie Police located Hess later in the afternoon of June 11. He was arrested and charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen property, and misdemeanor injury to real property….all linked to the library. He was additionally charged with felony attempted breaking and entering at Anchors Insurance.

Hess was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond and made his first appearance on Friday in Hertford County District Court.

Fitzhugh praised the work of the officers involved.