Former student charged with stealing J.H. Rose football helmets

A former J.H. Rose High School student was charged with the theft of 45 helmets from his alma mater after he was located by police in Pembroke on Wednesday.

Kyle Elijah Juan Hill, 24, was charged with commercial breaking/entering and felony larceny in connection with a crime on the night of Aug. 9 at J.H. Rose High School’s athletics field house. The break-in was reported at noon the following day. The helmets were valued at approximately $22,500, police said.

The Greenville Police Department said that Hill was located with the help of Robeson County authorities. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of two of the stolen helmets, police said.

After detectives obtained a search warrant for an address in Robeson County, they were able to recover 26 additional stolen football helmets. Hill was subsequently arrested and booked in Robeson County.

Greenville police did not specify what became of the other 17 stolen helmets. His means of entry to the field house and motive for stealing the helmets were also not specified.

A spokesman for Pitt County Schools said that Hill attended Rose as a sophomore and junior before he transferred out of the county. Greenville police said that Hill is a student at UNC Pembroke. A spokesman for the college confirmed that he is currently enrolled for the Fall 2024 semester. He said that Hill played football for the university in 2023.

Hill may face additional charges related to possession of the stolen property in Robeson County, Greenville police said. An inquiry was made for more information from the sheriff’s office.

The Greenville Police Department said it collaborated with the UNC Pembroke Police Department, Pembroke Police Department, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation.