<b>Sheriff’s Office warns of utility trailer theft  </b>

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office wishes to warn citizens of a crime trend identified in Northern Beaufort County.

Over the last two months, the Sheriff’s Office has fielded 15 reports of stolen utility trailers. These thefts have been primarily concentrated in the areas of Beaufort and Burton, with one theft reported on Lady’s Island.

During an attempted theft of a trailer from a home on Pine Grove Road, a witness reported seeing a small blue or green SUV leaving the area pulling a neighbor’s trailer. But when the SUV turned, the trailer became detached. Both suspects fled the scene, and the stolen trailer was successfully recovered.

Owners can help protect themselves against theft by increasing the level of effort required to access and steal a trailer

• Park the trailer with the hitch against a building, or in an area not easily accessed by a vehicle.

• Remove one or more of the wheels, or utilize wheel locks during storage.

• Chain the trailer to a tree, post, or other fixed structure.

• Utilize hitch pin coupler locks, ball locks, and/or aluminum coupler sleeves.

• Be sure to photograph the trailer and record the make, model, and serial number. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers.

<b>Attempted robbery under investigation </b>

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an attempted armed robbery that occurred at a convenience store late Wednesday, Nov. 13.

At approximately 10:40 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Callawassie General Store (1 Callawassie Dr) in reference to a robbery. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the 34-year-old female clerk who advised that just after 10 p.m., a white male armed with a knife entered the store and approached her at the register. The suspect demanded money; however, the clerk advised that she had already dropped all the cash in the safe. While the suspect was looking through the bank bag the clerk had been holding, she seized the opportunity to retrieve her own handgun.

Upon seeing the gun, the suspect fled the store without having stolen anything. The clerk was unharmed and there were no customers present at the time of the incident.

The suspect was described as a white male between 24-28 years of age, approximately 5’08”, 180 lbs, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, a baseball hat, and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Cpl. D. Nelson at 843-255-3212 or Crimestoppers.