In many ways, Howard is a typical thief, court records show. He has a history of juvenile crime and string of repeated offenses. He dropped out of school and used drugs. What's not so typical is how he managed to thwart the system for so long. His story shows how difficult it is for police to nab and keep property criminals in a system more geared to deal with violent offenders.
Experts say many serial offenders start young.
Even Howard, interviewed recently at a state prison in Butner, said he began breaking in houses for fun before it became a source of income. And it was exhilarating. May. His deftness allowed him to elude capture at least three times. Once, he barely escaped after police surprised him while he was breaking a window to enter a house. Another time, he ran away still wearing the handcuffs police had snapped on his wrists.