Workers thought thief who stole restaurant van was new employee

A man stole a restaurant's van Tuesday morning after breaking into the business and pretending to be a new employee.

Detectives with the Lincolnton County Sheriff’s Office said they watched surveillance footage showing the man breaking into the Home Place Restaurant around 3:30 a.m.

Employees of the restaurant told deputies that they arrived to work at 5:30 a.m. and found the man already in the business. They said they thought he might be a new employee. Detectives said the employees entered through the back of the building, so they didn’t notice damage to the restaurant’s front door from the break-in.

According to employees, the man stayed with them for 30 minutes before taking keys to the restaurant’s van and driving away in it.

The man also stole food -- which he stuffed in his backpack -- from the restaurant, detectives said.

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