Man charged in string of Raleigh business burglaries

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Raleigh Police arrested a man in connection with a string of business burglaries that happened between October and December,

Ron Decorrous Pierce, 45, was arrested and charged Sunday for the burglaries at Vic's Ristorante, 331 Blake St.; African Continental Grocery, 717 E. Martin St.; The Tire Guy, 630 Rock Quarry Road; and The Poole Road Mart, 2121 Poole Road.

He was charged with nine counts of felony breaking and or entering, nine counts of felony larceny after breaking/ entering, and nine counts of misdemeanor injury to real property.

Mario Longo, the long-time owner of Vic's, said he is relieved not just for himself and his employees but for patrons walking around downtown and other nearby businesses.

Longo has owned and operated Vic's for close to 30 years, and he also has a location on Lake Boone Trail. RPD said his business was broken into five times during November, all allegedly by Pierce.

Longo said he's noticed more security patrolling around downtown.

"It's Christmas time, joyous times, people, they like to get out and enjoy themselves and to not think about anything else," Longo said. "We don't need that kind of stuff, we never did, but especially this time, too."

Longo said he was pleased to hear about Pierce's arrest, and he appreciated the increase in the number of officers downtown.

"Nobody gets in trouble anymore, everybody can sleep a little bit more without fear of someone is going to break in again," he said.

Anna Grace FitzGerald, owner of Copper Line Plant Company, opened her shop on Blake Street in City Market nearly two years ago.

Her window was smashed a year ago but felt she said she felt overwhelming support from locals and her business community.

"I live downtown and know that and knew I wanted to be connected to the downtown community," FitzGerald said."I don't think an abundance of patrol is going to solve the problems they are called wicked problems...I think Downtown is still great and it's still growing and waking back up so to say...these are the issues to be seen with any growing city."

The case remains under ongoing investigation, RPD said. Police have not ruled out Pierce being involved in other incidents, too, they added.

Anyone who believes they may have information on this case is asked to visit Crimestoppers for anonymous reporting options or call (919) 996-1193.

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