Thieves break into store for lottery tickets

GARNER -- Garner police are searching for thieves who smashed through the front door of a convenience store early Thursday and grabbed $1,300 in lottery tickets.

The suspects were able to cash in $64 in winnings before the State Lottery Commission disabled the stolen tickets, Garner police said. Once a lottery ticket theft is reported to the commission, the tickets are electronically flagged and cannot be redeemed.

Investigators have video images of a man who tried to cash in one of the stolen winning tickets at a second convenience store in Clayton, police reported. After the suspect found that the tickets were no good, he apparently threw them out near the convenience store, according to police. The man was seen in the store again Friday, but police did not get there in time to catch him, Garner police spokesman Sgt. Joe Binns said.

The tickets were stolen about 5:30 a.m. Thursday at the Wilco gas station on U.S. 70, police reported. Police think more than one person was involved.

"Several people have hit the majority of the convenience stores up and down U.S. 70 from Raleigh to Clayton, attempting to cash in the stolen tickets," Garner police Detective Don McDuffie said in a statement.

Police describe one of the suspects as a brown-complexioned man with a mustache and beard. Police think he is in his late 30s to early 40s, weighing about 180 pounds. Police think he may be driving a newer-model, dark-colored minivan.

Garner police ask anyone with information about the stolen tickets to call them at 772-8810 or Garner Crime Stoppers at 226-2746.