Fort Mill police, neighbors to discuss recent break-ins

By Chris Corrado - Chris Corrado

FORT MILL -- A break-in attempt and shooting last weekend have prompted Fort Mill Police to host a town hall-style forum tonight to discuss the situation and tell neighbors how they can avoid becoming a victim.

Fort Mill Police Lt. Ray Dixon encourages residents of Fairway Drive and the WhiteGrove, Spring Branch Glen, McKendry, Audrey Acres, Dominion Bridge, Nauvasse Trail and Sterling subdivisions to attend the meeting at 7 tonight.

"The main focus is for people to know that we are here for them," Dixon said. "I don't want anyone to think that they can't call us."

Dixon, who is the department's crime prevention officer, said he plans to tell residents about Sunday's attempted break-in and shooting and explain how they can take precautions.

A Fairway Drive homeowner was shot at several times by a burglar he surprised Sunday morning.

The homeowner said he and his wife were awakened by a noise coming from the back door of their house that sounded like a loud "pop." He told his wife to call 911 while he went to check out the noise. When he entered the kitchen, he saw the suspect standing outside in a carport.

When the burglar saw the homeowner through a glass door, he pointed a gun and fired several shots that passed through the door, barely missing the homeowner, according to police and the resident. One bullet hit the kitchen counter. The suspect fled on foot.

"This is an unusual situation that happened to us," the homeowner said. "If I had put my alarm on, or if I had a keypad in my bedroom, I could have set off the siren."

Prior to the resident's encounter with the burglar, someone knocked on doors at three other homes on the block, but no one answered, according to the report.

"I wish someone from those homes called 911 because this could have prevented him (the suspect) from shooting my house up," the homeowner said.

The Fort Mill Police Department, York County K-9 Unit and York County Forensic Services Unit responded but were unable to track the suspect. One of the officers noticed that the back kitchen door had bullet holes in the glass and he found three spent casings on the property.

The resident said he plans to upgrade his security system.

There were two similar incidents in the last two years -- one in McKendry and another in WhiteGrove.

"I don't want a (fourth)," Dixon said. "We need to come together as a community because this area may be a targeted area."