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Highlands Today

Police Arrest 2 Downtown Burglary Suspects

Courtesy photo

James Lee Gardner, 21; Lamar Felix Wilcher, 19

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: February 4, 2008

SEBRING — Two Sebring men remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $10,000 each, charged with burglary, grand theft and felony criminal mischief in connection with a burglary at the Habitat For Humanity store.

James Lee Gardner, 21, and Lamar Felix Wilcher, 19, both of of 4707 Fourth St., Sebring, were each charged with burglary of a dwelling or structure causing damage more than $1,000, criminal mischief $1,000 or more and grand theft $300 or more but less than $5,000.

According to the arrest report, the burglary was reported at 6:53 a.m. Jan. 22, at the Habitat For Humanity store, located at 137 S. Commerce Ave., as workers arrived for work.

Stolen was a Samsung cellular telephone, DVDs and cash from the office safe. Gardner and Wilcher reportedly have confessed to the crime, according to the report.

Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr said the pair have confessed to 13 burglaries in the downtown area, including the American Legion hall, at 528 N. Pine St., on Jan. 12; taking an undisclosed amount of cash and liquor and causing $1,200 in damage.

Triple Pink, Inc., a storage facility, at 1112 Persimmon Ave., Sebring, was burglarized on Jan. 10, with locks cut off of units.

Heartland Christian School, located at 1160 Persimmon Ave., Sebring, was burglarized two times, Carr said. Three burglaries were initially reported in a previous report.

Horace Williams Office Products, at 139 W. Center Ave., Sebring, was burglarized Dec. 20 or 21. It was unclear if anything was taken.

Salvation Army, located at 3135 Kenilworth Blvd., Sebring, reported a burglary between Dec. 15 and 17. An undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise was taken and there was $25 damage. It was reportedly burglarized a second time, according to the arrest report, but no date was provided.

The Busy Kids Montessori School, located at 922 Persimmon Ave., Sebring, was burglarized between Dec. 14 and 17. A small amount of cash was taken and it sustained $180 in damage.

AA Storage of Highlands County was also burglarized as was Charlies Steak and Seafood, Sandy's Circle Cafe, and an attempted burglary of Feather's Dry Cleaners.

It was too much paperwork for detectives to complete all at once, Carr said. It will take several weeks to complete all of the additional paperwork before more charges will be filed on these other burglaries.

Carr said that the merchandise stolen by the suspects was valued at approximately $15,000 and that there was $3,800 worth of property damage to the businesses and facilities.

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