Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies are asking for the public’s assistance identifying the “Masked Pirate" burglar, the suspect in a Cornelius business burglary that occurred in late July.
Deputies responded to a burglary that had occurred overnight at the Last Lap, located at 1515 North Adair Street in Cornelius. Employees arrived to find a safe stolen from the location, with over $4,000 in cash believed to have been inside.
Upon review of surveillance video, deputies observed a suspect enter through a side door after business hours. The suspect was disguised in a pirate mask that included a fake eye patch, parrot, and beard. He entered the store partially dressed with a t-shirt worn only across his shoulders while holding a fire extinguisher. After examining a safe on the floor, the Masked Pirate disabled the inside surveillance camera.
Deputies believe the suspect removed the safe using a hand truck and fled in a stolen white pickup, which was later found abandoned with its license plates stripped in western Washington County.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact City of Cornelius deputies by calling (503) 629-0111.