Clifton Gregory Linville

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A county teen is behind bars, and more charges could be forthcoming, after alert neighbors spotted him allegedly attempting to break into a home, Sheriff Graham Atkinson said.

According to Atkinson, neighbors spotted 17-year-old Clifton Gregory Linville allegedly attempting to crawl through the window of a neighbor’s home.

“The neighborhood around Spring View Lane had experienced a series of break-ins in recent weeks, and they were looking out for anything suspicious,” he said.

At around 9:46 a.m. Sunday, a neighbor reportedly saw someone crawling through a window of a residence located at 254 Spring View Lane, and alerted law enforcement.

“Neighbors kept an eye on the house until deputies arrived,” Atkinson said.

Once officers converged on the scene, the suspect later identified as Linville allegedly attempted to evade capture by running into nearby woods.

Deputies with the Surry County Sheriff’s Office called the Mount Airy Police Department, who brought a K-9 officer to track Linville.

He was later captured on Willis Gap Road.

Linville, of 247 Spring View Lane, was taken into custody and charged with breaking and entering and resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer.

He was booked into the Surry County Jail under a $50,000 bond.

Atkinson said detectives are in the process of investigating the previous break-ins in the community.

Reach Keith Strange at kstrange@civitasmedia.com or 719-1929.