Hamilton man arrested in Vina school theft last week

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer

VINA — A Hamilton man was arrested in Vina on Tuesday, June 25, after stealing property and a snack from the Vina School.
Chad Raper, 47, was arrested on charges of third degree burglary and third degree theft of property.
According to a spokesperson for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Raper allegedly entered the school through an unsecured entrance and stole several items, including two laptop computers, a backpack and some baseball equipment.
The FCSO said Raper also stole a bag of chips and a cold drink from inside the school.
The FCSO said Raper was caught on a school surveillance camera, and law enforcement took a screenshot of him from the footage to find out who he was.
Raper was identified as the suspect after feedback from the community in-person and on social media.
Raper listed a Hamilton address, but the FCSO said those familiar with him said he had been staying in Vina for the last few months.
Deputies went to several locations Raper was known to frequent, where witnesses identified him and said he had left about 30 minutes before police arrived.
The FCSO said around 45 minutes later, Raper was arrested leaving the location he had been staying in, where some of the stolen property was also recovered.
According to the FCSO, Raper denied stealing the computers, baseball equipment and backpack, but did admit to taking the drink and bag of chips.
Raper was booked on charges of burglary and theft of property, both third-degree…