Surfside Beach man pleads guilty to rash of burglaries; sentenced to 45 years

A Surfside Beach man initially charged with a rash of area burglaries was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but he’ll only serve 15 years.

Allen Loring Atkins, Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree burglary Tuesday. Atkins was arrested in December and charged with 13 counts of first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, reckless driving, failure to stop for blue lights and siren, and driving under suspension.

Circuit Court Judge Larry B. Hyman sentenced Atkins to 15 years in prison on each count, but the sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will only serve 15 years, according to a release from the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Senior Solicitor Stephen Grooms, who prosecuted the case, said Atkins must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. If Atkins is convicted in the future of a serious crime he will qualify for a mandatory life sentence, he added.

About 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2015, a Surfside Beach police officer operating on a burglary task force encountered a suspicious vehicle in the area of Cedar Drive South, and the vehicle tried to flee when the officer attempted to stop it, according to a police report.

A car chase ensued between Atkins and the officer, and Horry County police, South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers, and Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office deputies helped the Surfside Beach officer in the pursuit.

Atkins was caught and arrested after a brief struggle with police, said Rodney Keziah, Surfside Beach Police Chief.

Authorities said they found items in Atkins’ car during the arrest, tying him to the burglary incidents.

The burglaries occurred from May 27 through Aug. 7 in the Surfside Beach and Garden City Beach areas, and jewelry, coins, electronics and tools valued at more than $5,000 in total were stolen from multiple residences, authorities said.

Many of the burglaries occurred in vacation or second homes when the residents were away, according to police reports. Several reports show the suspect entered the homes by breaking locks on back or side doors, though some front door locks were also pried open.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Surfside Beach man pleads guilty to rash of burglaries; sentenced to 45 years."