Break-ins During Panthers Playoff Game
Two men were taken into custody for allegedly breaking into 24 cars at an overflow parking lot close to Bank of America Stadium during the Carolina Panthers playoff game on Saturday.
Naim Stroman-El and Anthony Canada, both 35, along with another individual still on the run, reportedly forced their way into a car that belonged to a fan who was attending the game where the Panthers lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
Charles Dillon and Justin Grigg, who are ardent Panthers supporters, arrived at their cars while discussing a crucial phone call made during the match. To their surprise, both found their driver’s side windows smashed.
“Coming home from a really fun night wasn’t the sight you wanted to see,” Grigg remarked. “It definitely added insult to injury,” he added.
Surrounding Grigg’s vehicle were numerous personal belongings, including a breast pump, which the thieves had scattered everywhere. Dillon reported that his car sustained extensive damage, with the suspects tearing off the piece that covered the trunk and windows. He noted that $200 in cash was stolen from the console but acknowledged it was his oversight to leave such a sizable amount there.
At least four firearms were reported missing, as gathered from an affidavit accessed by authorities.
Fortunately, the suspects weren’t able to evade capture for long. A witness on a nearby rooftop during the game noticed the group breaking windows and promptly called 911. The caller described the suspects’ vehicle as a white SUV, leading officers to stop a similar white GMC Yukon in the vicinity just five minutes later.
As police approached, two suspects exited through the passenger door and attempted to flee, while the third managed to escape. Police arrested Canada and Stroman-El at the scene.
Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered one of the stolen guns concealed under the floorboards. Investigating further, they found three to five additional guns discarded along the roadside, although they could not secure one before it was taken by a group of unruly juveniles.
Both suspects now face 39 charges each, including at least 23 counts related to breaking and entering into motor vehicles. Stroman-El is currently detained at the Mecklenburg County Jail with a bond set at $200,000, while Canada remains in custody with a bail of less than $40,000.
