Clifton Gregory Linville

slideshow

A 17-year-old Mount Airy teen who was arrested in mid-January on a charge of breaking into a neighbor’s home is back in jail after being charged with additional crimes, according to Sheriff Graham Atkinson.

According to authorities, observant neighbors deserve the credit.

Atkinson said neighbors who live in the affected area around Spring View Lane played a key role in apprehending Clifton Gregory Linville, of 247 Spring View Lane.

“They were looking out for anything suspicious and had a very active community watch effort after a rash of break-ins in December and January,” he said. “A neighbor saw a subject crawling through a window at 254 Spring View Lane and called for deputies, which led to Linville’s arrest.”

After being taken into custody initially, Linville was released on bond, but was subsequently returned to the custody of the sheriff’s office by the person who signed the bond earlier this week, where he was charged in five more break-ins.

The most recent charges include five counts each of breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen property, all felonies, that occurred in the same area and during the same time frame as the original charge.

At the time of his earlier arrest he was charged with breaking and entering and resisting, obstructing and/or delaying of a law enforcement officer.

Atkinson said Linville allegedly had taken jewelry, money and electronics from the homes.

He has been booked into the Surry County Jail under a $55,000 bond.