Wednesday, Sep. 01, 2010

Police: Couple tried to steal $300 in groceries

Police have arrested one suspect and are looking for another who allegedly assaulted a store employee Aug. 22 while trying to walk off with a cart full of groceries from a North Raleigh Lowes Foods.

The two suspects, a man and a woman, entered the store at 2900 E. Millbrook Road about 6 p.m. Police say they tried to walk out without paying for about $300 worth of groceries.

When a store manager and a security guard confronted the suspects and told the pair to come with them, the female complied. The man, however, did not.

"He struck the manager in the face and fled out the door," said Laura Hourigan, a spokeswoman for the Raleigh Police Department.

Police charged Jennifer Presley Burford, 35, of Raleigh with strong-arm robbery. Burford later left Wake County jail on pre-trial release.

Authorities have identified the male suspect and are trying to locate him, Hourigan said.

Individuals who may have information related to the crime are urged to contact the Raleigh Police Department Detectives Division at 919-996-3555 or leave anonymous tips at CrimeStoppers at 919-834-4357.