A late-night break-in at the Dollar General located in the Chesapeake Plaza has law enforcement investigating what appears to be a theft involving someone with inside knowledge of the store—possibly even access to a store key.
Deputies responded to an alarm drop in the early morning hours and arrived to find the front door of the store ajar, the lock still engaged, and a pack of Marlboro Reds lying on the welcome mat. Upon clearing the store, officers found no one inside but noticed signs of a targeted theft.
Surveillance footage later reviewed with a member of store management revealed an unidentified white male approaching the store from the east side. His face was obscured by a sweatshirt, and he wore gloves—indicating a level of planning. What stood out most, however, was how confidently he moved: the man used a key to enter the locked store, immediately walked to the alarm keypad, then made his way behind the counter.
There, he retrieved a set of keys to the cigarette display case, opened the glass doors, and took two full cartons of Marlboro Reds before exiting through the front door. Packs of cigarettes were found scattered just outside, possibly dropped in his haste.
The suspect exited the store the same way he entered, staying out of the range of security cameras as much as possible—suggesting he knew the blind spots.
A Suspicious Link to a Former Employee
When questioned about who currently had access to the store’s keys, a Dollar General manager stated that only he and two other managers should have access. However, he also revealed that a former employee had left the job without returning her keys.
Deputies later visited the former employee’s residence and spoke with her. Her account of the night in question raised further red flags. She described being with a male acquaintance who had supposedly jumped out of her truck during an argument. She claimed not to know his whereabouts and was reluctant to call him.
Her timeline of events also appeared inconsistent. She claimed to have been home for hours by the time deputies arrived at 2:55 a.m., but the engine of her pickup truck was still warm—suggesting otherwise.
Investigators Eye Possible Inside Access
The fact that the suspect used a store key, went straight to the alarm, knew where the cigarette keys were stored, and avoided camera angles all points toward insider knowledge. While no arrests have been made, investigators are treating the case as a potential inside job.
The footage of the incident has yet to be retrieved for evidence due to technical access limitations at the store level. Deputies were advised that only the general manager has the ability to provide security footage copies.
Why Businesses Must Take Key Control Seriously
This incident is a perfect reminder that key control and alarm code management are critical for business security. When employees leave a job—especially in retail environments with high-theft items like tobacco products—keys and access codes must be recovered or changed immediately.
Failing to do so can leave a store vulnerable to theft, and as seen here, even a single pack of missing keys can potentially unlock the door to a much bigger problem.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information about the break-in to contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.
