Burglar hides in store, walks off with 'a lot of clothes and toys'

Family Dollar on North Granard Street, as seen from the parking lot of the Gaffney Police Department, apparently was targeted by a burglar looking for Christmas items on Wednesday. A burglar apparently decided to challenge the long arm of the law by committing a crime within short reach.

According to a report from the Gaffney Police Department, the Family Dollar at 205 N. Granard St. lost about $1,100 in merchandise Wednesday night during a burglary. The merchandise was described as "A lot of clothes, a lot of toys and at least 10 Christmas trees."

The toys were valued at $300, the clothing at $600, and the trees at $200. An officer reported he found the door to the store, which is located just a few hundred feet from the Gaffney Police Department headquarters, unlocked at about 8:50 p.m. Later, when a store employee arrived at the scene, police were told the door had been locked when the store closed for the evening. It subsequently was determined the video surveillance system was not on.

The store employee told police someone must have been hiding in the store when it closed for the day. The burglary remains under investigation.