Police arrest prolific teen burglar

Kevin Leon Smith, 18, was arrested Friday, July 28, while burgling an Albemarle home, and faces more than 40 charges—mostly thefts—in the city and county. Police so far have attributed many unsolved burglary cases to Smith, and are investigating to see if he’s responsible for even more thefts.
    Smith is up for nearly 20 breaking and entering charges, two counts of misdemeanor vandalism and one count of carnal knowledge of a minor—an unrelated incident, City officials say.
    In the county, Smith is being held for more than a dozen breaking and entering charges, eight grand larcenies and three petty larcenies.
    “It’s unique to find someone at any age charged with the number [of crimes] that he is. We haven’t seen too many people as young as Mr. Smith with the criminal charges that he’s accumulating,” says City spokesman Ric Barrick. Smith had a juvenile record for similar crimes, Barrick says.
    Smith’s theft charges were nonviolent, and Barrick says the victim in the carnal knowledge charge—who was between 13 and 15—did not sustain any physical injuries.
    A stolen camera was recovered when Smith was arrested, but most of the stolen items had been sold on the street. A spike in thefts in the city and county is being attributed to him.
    Each of Smith’s felony charges carries a potential 20-year sentence, County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Camblos says. The City and County may work together to prosecute Smith.
    Smith’s family declined to comment on his arrest. His arraignment hearing was held Friday, August 5.