Photo courtesy of the Giles County Sheriff's Office

Surveillance cameras at the Super Val U Grocery in Newport captured images of a man breaking into the store Oct. 11 and taking cartons of cigarettes.

Suspects sought in cigarette thefts

The Giles County Sheriff's Office is asking for help in identifying the people who took more than $2,000 worth of cigarettes during a store break-in.

The Super Val U Grocery in Newport was broken into the night of Oct. 11, Lt. Ron Hamlin said.

Someone backed a vehicle through the front double glass doors, then lifted the doors to get inside, Hamlin said.

A series of photos from the store's surveillance cameras show a man with a long blond braid taking several cartons of cigarettes. Hamlin said the cigarettes were valued at $2,600.

A second person is seen in photos helping the first man carry the cartons, but that person's face isn't visible.

Anyone who recognizes the man or knows anything about the incident is asked to call the Giles County Sheriff's Office at 921-3842.

2 face charges in Rich Creek robbery

Two West Virginia men have been charged in connection with an armed robbery at the Rich Creek Dairy Queen on Monday.

Lt. Ron Hamlin of the Giles County Sheriff's Office said five employees were cleaning up the closed restaurant about 9:30 p.m. One went outside to dump some grease and heard a noise in the bushes, Hamlin said, so she started walking back in the back door.

A man wearing a hood over his head and carrying what looked like an assault rifle ran through the back door and ordered the employees to get on the ground, Hamlin said.

The man then grabbed the deposit bag with an undisclosed amount of cash inside and ran out of the store, he said.

No one was hurt.

Nacuther Junior Williams, 30, of Peterstown, W.Va., was charged Tuesday with armed robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, Hamlin said.

Gary Laws, 27, of Hindside, W.Va., was charged Wednesday with conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Laws drove the getaway vehicle, Hamlin said.

Both are being held in the New River Valley Regional Jail.

He said the rifle was later found in the river and turned out to be made of plastic.

-- Shawna Morrison