news-record.com

GREENSBORO — A robbery suspect got away Thursday night after snatching a lottery ticket dispenser from the counter of a convenience store.

Greensboro police said they caught up with him less than four hours later — when he tried to cash in some of the stolen tickets.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, police said they were called to the G&S Mini Mart at 2100 Lawndale Drive. The store clerk said a man had come in the store, pushed him to the floor and grabbed an N.C. Education Lottery scratch-off ticket dispenser from the counter. The suspect drove off east on Sunset Drive. The clerk was unhurt.

At about 10:30 p.m., police were called to a second convenience store, the Wilco-Hess station at 2834 Battleground Ave. There, police said a man was trying to cash in some of the scratch-off tickets stolen earlier.

Justin Conley, 22, remains in the Guilford County jail this morning on a $7,500 bond. Conley, of 2200 W. Cornwallis Drive, was charged with common law robbery and obtaining property by false pretense.