Sheriff arrests suspect in spree of home break-ins

Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis announced on Oct. 27 that officers have arrested a man connected to a string of late-night home invasions. The suspect, 25-year-old Terron Lamon Banks, was taken into custody at a bus station in Spartanburg County while attempting to board a vehicle to Atlanta.

Investigators first became aware of the case on Oct. 16 when they noted distinct patterns in multiple reports. Lewis described these reports as sharing “some very concerning similarities.” In every incident, a suspect entered or attempted to enter residences occupied by women who were alone at the time.

Detectives linked Banks to four specific burglaries that occurred in September. One of these involved the suspect entering an apartment through an unlocked window while the resident slept. Banks now faces four counts of first-degree burglary, one count of grand larceny, and one count of voyeurism.

The sheriff’s office is actively investigating five other incidents in the area that fit the same profile. DNA evidence from the scenes has been sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for processing. Lewis noted that Banks is not originally from Greenville and has a prior criminal history.

“We have a great relationship [with] adjoining counties,” Lewis said regarding the arrest. “Certainly relieved to have him in custody before he got out of the county and possibly harmed somebody else.” Lewis also stated, “Obviously, this guy probably did not just start doing this in Greenville County.”

Deputies are asking anyone who believes they were a victim to call the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office at 864-467-5300. Lewis advised residents to stay vigilant, keep doors and windows locked, and consider arming themselves if they are comfortable doing so. The next step in the legal process involves the processing of the submitted DNA evidence.