York County teenager woke his neighbors at gunpoint, robbed them

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Collin Jenkins broke down in court Thursday as he tried to apologize for the violent  2018 break-in and robbery of his neighbors.

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Channel 9's South Carolina bureau reporter Greg Suskin learned that Jenkins' neighbors lived a mile from him and he targeted them because they had nice cars sitting outside.

"It's time for me to grow up and face the consequences," Jenkins said through tears.

He was 18, when prosecutors said he planned to rob a house on Ferndale Road, in Mcconnells. The same street he lived on with his family.

After midnight on Aug. 9, officials said Jenkins, wearing a camo mask, smashed the back window of his neighbors' home with a crow bar and woke the couple up in bed at gunpoint, demanding money.

Prosecutors said the victims told him the money was outside in their truck, so Jenkins forced them outside and they gave him $98. Jenkins then demanded the keys to their truck and drove off.

A York County sheriff's deputy happened to be only a mile away when the victims called 911.

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He saw Jenkins leaving the scene, and chased him at speeds topping 100 mph before Jenkins hit stop sticks placed in the road and wrecked the truck.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to armed robbery, grand larceny, burglary and a weapons charge. He admitted to wanting the money for drugs and to drive to the beach.

"The main contributing factor to all this was the fact that I was introduced to hard drugs at a young age, but I know that's no excuse for what I've done," he said.

Jenkins had no prior criminal record. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. That's the minimum allowed for burglary first degree, which carries up to life in prison.

The victims of the crime were in court as well, but did not wish to speak.

Cox Media Group