Kyle Hill, a former football player at J.H. Rose High School, has been arrested for allegedly breaking into the school and stealing more than $22,000 worth of football helmets.
According to Greenville police, Hill reportedly took 45 helmets from the school‘s athletic facility over the past weekend. He was apprehended in Pembroke on Wednesday and subsequently booked into the Robeson County Jail, from which he later posted bail.
Head football coach at J.H. Rose High School ‘shocked’ at Hill’s arrest
Will Bland, the head football coach at J.H. Rose High School, expressed his surprise upon learning that Hill was involved in the theft.
“I was shocked when they showed me a picture of him. I was like, no? Really? That can’t be the kid,” Head football coach Will Bland said.
Two stolen helmets found on Hill’s persons
Investigators revealed that when they arrested the 24-year-old Hill, he had two stolen helmets in his possession, and an additional 26 helmets were discovered at a location in Robeson County. The location of the remaining stolen helmets are unknown at this time.
Coach Bland noted that the stickers had been removed from the helmets, indicating that Hill intended to sell them.
“They went ahead and took all the stickers off all 28 helmets so probably getting ready to sell them,” Bland said.
The Greenville Police Department has charged Hill with commercial breaking and entering, as well as felony larceny.
Hill played football for J.H. Rose during his sophomore and junior year
Reports indicate that although Hill did not graduate from J.H. Rose and transferred out of Pitt County, he played on the football team during his sophomore and junior years.
He is currently a student at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
