Shoplifter Arrested After Hostage Ruse

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Shoplifter Arrested After Hostage Ruse 2A North Carolina man was arrested this afternoon following a shoplifting investigation that evolved in a reported hostage incident.

Officers were called to Tractor Supply regarding a shoplifting incident. The thief was seen leaving the store in a black Lexus, which police then found at a nearby business, unoccupied, with no license tags.

While police were investigating, 911 dispatch was called by a male saying an employee at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts was being held hostage by someone with a gun. Police responded and found no such incident taking place. The call was pinged to a McDonald’s restaurant, where again police found no hostage incident taking place.

While officers were checking the McDonald’s, the man wanted for shoplifting was seen walking to the black Lexus. Police say he made the 911 call about a hostage incident. Conrad Alexander Burke, 46, of Charlotte, was arrested and charged with false identification to law enforcement and false emergency communication to emergency personnel, according to Pulaski Police.

Police say Burke’s car was found to be “full of property from various retailers.”

Any jurisdictions or retailers who have been subject to recent similar thefts are asked to call Police Police at 540-994-8680.

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