Wilmington man shares video of theft from backyard shed

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man shares video footage of a masked figure stealing from his backyard shed on Oleander Drive. The theft, which occurred Sunday afternoon, left Greg Jackson and his family with $1,600 worth of stolen items.

Jackson was home with his wife and child when the theft occurred, but they didn’t realize anything was missing until the next day. His security camera captured the masked individual approaching the shed, taking several items, and returning minutes later to grab more.

“We didn’t know until the next day when we filed the police report and started hearing from other neighbors who had also been robbed,” Jackson said. “We know of at least two others, but there are probably more victims who haven’t realized yet. They seem to be targeting outbuildings.”

Jackson, who has serial numbers for his stolen tools, is hoping pawn shops or online platforms like Facebook Marketplace may help recover his items. Despite filing a police report, Jackson said he hasn’t received much information from the Wilmington Police Department (WPD).

Lieutenant Greg Willet from WPD explained how these types of cases are typically handled. “Often, these cases involve multiple victims, not just one person. Once we identify the offender, we may be able to resolve several cases at once.”

Willet also emphasized the importance of keeping track of serial numbers for stolen items. “If your property turns up elsewhere—say in another state—and it has a serial number, that can help us track it down and potentially return it to you.”

To avoid becoming a target, Willet recommends securing your belongings: “Locking up your property makes it a harder target. Opportunistic thieves will usually move on to easier pickings if they encounter locked doors or sheds.”

Though it can take time for property crime reports to be processed, Willet encourages residents to call the front desk for updates on the status of their cases.