13-Year-Olds Break Into Kroger

The Farmville Police Department received a call on Saturday, November 30, 2013 reporting suspicious persons on the roof of the shopping center that formerly housed Kroger and Roses.

Officers arrived on scene and found two thirteen year old males on the roof of the building. They were taken into custody without incident.

In discussions with the juveniles, the two stated that they’d left some belongings behind at Kroger. Without easy access to the roof, the Farmville Fire Department responded with their ladder truck to make access to the roof.

A Farmville Police Officer and firefighters ascended the ladder to the roof to find that the juveniles had actually made entry through a roof access door to the area formerly occupied by Kroger.

Officers determined that the building was secure and that there was no chance that others would make access to the building over the weekend. On Monday, officers were able to enter the building. Inside, they found personal items along with a significant number of items that were later determined to be stolen from a location in another jurisdiction.

Charges are pending.

Police are investigating to determine if vandalism to property and vehicles parked behind the shopping center is related. The Farmville Police Department would also like to encourage business owners in Farmville to ensure that access doors to their rooftops are secure and that outside doors, both on the ground and on the roof are locked.