LAKE GASTON – Two men from Roanoke Rapids have been arrested and two others remain at-large following a rash of residential break-ins at Lake Gaston last month.

Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith reported that Darian John Allen and Earnest Nelson III were each charged with numerous breaking and entering’s within the Lake Gaston area. Both remain in custody in Warren County with pending upcoming court dates in three counties.

Allen is currently being held under a $255,000 secured bond and Nelson is being held under a $245,000 secured bond.

The remaining two suspects, Charles Balmer Jr. and Ryan Garner, both of Roanoke Rapids, have not been arrested and have also received warrants for the same number and type of charges.

Sheriff Smith referenced the efforts by these individuals to break into homes as “very organized.”

The investigation into these crimes began in the early morning hours of Feb. 13 when Northampton County Sheriff’s Office patrol units responded to a residential alarm at a residence off of Hutcheson Drive in Lake Gaston area around 3:30 p.m.

Upon arrival it was discovered that the home had been broken into. After units along with detectives went back into the area to conduct further investigation it was discovered that numerous homes within this same area were broken into within that same night. The Sheriff’s Office completed reports for a total of 10 residential breaking and entering’s, where numerous items were reported stolen.

Joining efforts with Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Northampton investigators teamed together in an effort to solve the numerous breaking and entering’s. There were also numerous break-in’s within these joining counties as well around the same time frame. Investigators were able to quickly identify possible suspects from different leads and evidence.

On Feb. 21, investigators from Northampton, Warren and Halifax counties were able to identify and charge Allen and Nelson with numerous breaking and entering’s within the Lake Gaston area. Allen was jailed under a $255,000 secured bond while Nelson was held under a $245,000 secured bond. Both remain in custody in Warren County with pending upcoming court dates in the three counties.

Total charges in Northampton County for Darian John Allen and Earnest Nelson III included each receiving 10 counts of second degree burglary, 10 counts of larceny after breaking and entering, 10 counts of injury to real property, and 10 counts of conspiracy to commit breaking and entering / larceny.

The remaining two suspects, Charles Balmer Jr. and Ryan Garner, both of Roanoke Rapids, have not been arrested and have also received warrants for the same number and type of charges.

Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith stated that it is very important for citizens to be vigilant and if there is anything suspicious they see within their communities to call 911 and document any vehicle descriptions and individuals.

“I want to thank Captain Patrick Jacobs and Sgt. David Shephard for their hard work and diligent effort in solving these cases and I would like to especially thank Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Halifax County Sheriff’s Office for their collective efforts, where all agencies worked together to solve these cases. Citizens are urged to please call 911 if the other remaining suspects are seen,” Smith stated.