Four men sought in larceny at local convenience store

The Alleghany County Sheriff’s Department is seeking leads in a larceny at a local convenience store.

According to Deputy Bryan Maines, four unidentified black males entered Mountain Top Quick Stop (formerly J.B.’s Quick Stop) on May 20 around 3 p.m. The gas station and store is located just outside the Sparta town limits on U.S. 21.

The men took a little less than $2,000 that was in a bank bag behind the counter at the store, said Maines.

“The men came into the store and appeared to shopping, but what they were doing was casing it out,” said Maines. “They asked a clerk to help them find an item on the shelf and, when she left from behind the counter, one of the men walked in behind the counter. He then located the money bag and took the money from the bag.”

The men did not buy anything, but instead thanked the clerk and left the store shortly thereafter.

Maines said the clerk did not notice the man taking the money from the bag. The theft was not noticed until later in the day when the clerk checked the bag.

The store has video surveillance equipment, which recorded the larceny and the events leading up to it, Maines commented. That evidence has been turned over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation so that the images can be enhanced to help identify all of the suspects involved.

Maines said other similar reports were made at other local establishments. “The men were spotted at several places, here and in Independence, Va., but no other larcenies have been reported in those cases. However, the men were acting suspicious,” said Maines.

Additional camera images of men thought to be the same as the suspects in the Sparta larceny were recorded in Independence.

A light green, older model General Motors vehicle, possibly a Buick or Oldsmobile, was identified as being occupied by suspects matching the description of the men, said Maines. At least two of the men involved appeared to be in their 50s or 60s, said Maines. The other two men appear to be younger than the other two.

Anyone with information on the men or a suspected vehicle matching the description of the one seen in Sparta, may call Maines at 372-4455.

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