ELIZABETHTOWN — Two separate incidents kept law enforcement busy within 12 hours of each other in Elizabethtown.
In the first incident, Elizabethtown police officers were summoned to Pizza Hut on West Broad Street on a report of a robbery at about 11 p.m. Thursday.
“Two employees of the Pizza Hut were robbed at gunpoint,” said Chief Kip Hester. “As the two employees were walking to their vehicle with the nightly deposit, a lone suspect armed with a handgun approached the two and ordered them into their vehicle.”
Hester said the suspect took the employees’ belongings along with the nightly deposit and ordered the employees to drive him to another location about two miles from Pizza Hut.
“The suspect then departed the vehicle and the two victims were left unharmed,” Hester said.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Elizabethtown Police Department at 910-862-3125.
In the other incident, a resident called police when he saw a suspicious vehicle in a yard on West Broad Street at about 10:30 a.m.
“The neighbor knew the vehicle didn’t belong at the residence and watched the two occupants of the vehicle walk up to the residence, break in and begin loading stolen belongings into their vehicle — a burgundy Honda Odyssey Mini Van,” Hester said. “As officers arrived on scene, the suspects jumped into their vehicle and sped away …”
Hester added that law enforcement with both the EPD and Bladen County Sheriff’s Office were led on a short pursuit before the suspects pulled over and were placed under arrest.
Arrested was Timothy O’Neil Locklear Jr. of Lumberton and Jimmy Michael Cummings of Murfreesboro. They were each charged with felony breaking and entering, and larceny. As the driver of the vehicle, Locklear was also charged with fleeing to elude arrest and driving while license revoked.
“I would like to remind all citizens and business owners that the holiday season is upon us, and crime during this part of the year increases dramatically,” Hester said. “Please be vigilant and always be aware of your surroundings. If you see something out of the ordinary please don’t hesitate to call and alert the police. Any information reported can remain confidential, but we cannot be successful in keeping the community safe without your help.”
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.