GASTONIA, N.C. — Police have charged a man for the Jan. 17 armed robbery of a Gastonia Kohl’s.
UPDATE: 🚨ARREST🚨
31yo James Willard charged for January 17 armed robbery at Kohl’s on E. Franklin Boulevard.
During robbery, Willard pepper sprayed employee and stole $80K worth of jewelry.
Details here: https://t.co/9m5VeVg7d8 pic.twitter.com/MM4G74fNnX
In late January, investigators released surveillance video as they searched for the person accused of stealing $80,000 worth of jewelry from the store. Police said the robbery happened on Jan. 17 around 5 p.m. at the Kohl’s store on East Franklin Boulevard.
Investigators said the suspect approached the jewelry counter and used a hammer to break the glass display case, which had several wedding rings and other accessories. According to police, the suspect then pepper-sprayed an employee who approached him.
Irene Coleman shops at the store and saw all the damage and crime scene tape afterward.
“I would not try to stop him,” Coleman said Thursday. “I would let him have what he wanted. That’s just me. You look after yourself, not the other person.”
Officers said the suspect stole about $80,000 in jewelry and left the store.
“I would step back because you don’t know how crazy people are and what they’re going to do,” customer Cynthia Dincher said.
On Monday, police said 31-year-old James Randall Willard of Bessemer City had been charged in the case.
No further information was released.
(WATCH BELOW: ‘There’s no fear of God’: Bus stolen from church in Burke County)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/01-21-2023/t_aa10df64c3084a7e8b1f72ea47686187_name_df_late_bus_stolen_tease_video__171953_frame_2903.jpeg)
©2023 Cox Media Group
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uL%2FOnKuvZpOkunC6xLCqaKSfmK6te9Kuqqmdk6l6or7RnqqtnZRirqfAxKtkcWibYremw8SlqbJlo6m8rbHNZp6aq6Sku6qtjKSmoaSjZKJzjblsfXx8hneSj3%2BkbH%2BTjoB%2BoIiRlJJ8aA%3D%3D