Raleigh police investigate break-ins at hotel during Leesville prom night
Seven cars were broken into at the Raleigh Marriott during Leesville High’s prom, and police say one stolen item was a handgun.
Raleigh police are investigating a late-night break-in spree at the Raleigh Marriott off Glenwood Avenue after seven vehicles were entered while Leesville High School’s prom was underway inside the hotel. Officers said off-duty police saw people breaking into cars in the parking lot around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and investigators later confirmed that several items were taken, including a handgun.
The theft of a firearm raises the stakes well beyond an ordinary vehicle-larceny call. No one was reported injured, and police had not made any arrests as of the report, but the case immediately put a spotlight on parking-lot security at a busy hotel hosting one of Wake County’s biggest school milestones. Families arriving for prom would have expected the property to be crowded, visible and monitored, yet the break-ins happened in plain view at a venue serving students, parents and other guests.
Raleigh’s own crime-prevention guidance shows why investigators keep stressing locked cars and empty interiors. In 2020, Raleigh police recorded 2,520 vehicle break-ins, and the city says 96% of those incidents showed no visible damage, a sign that many of the cars were likely unlocked. Police also said 211 firearms were stolen from vehicles that year during larceny-from-motor-vehicle cases. The city urges residents to remove valuables, especially guns, from vehicles and to lock doors every time they park.
The department says people with information can help investigators through Raleigh Crime Stoppers, which lists an anonymous tip line at 919-996-1193. Raleigh police also offer online reporting for thefts from vehicles and other non-emergency crimes, and the city maintains crime data and mapping through its open data portal. For Wake County parents, students and anyone parking at a hotel, restaurant or event venue, the lesson from the Glenwood Avenue break-ins is blunt: a crowded lot does not guarantee safety, and a few minutes of prevention can determine whether a night ends with prom photos or a police report.
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
