Win or lose: Police end suspect’s winning streak

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 25, 2005

Rodney W. Smith’s luck finally ran out.

Police arrested the 22-year-old Suffolk man at the Days Inn Wednesday, charging him with stealing lottery scratch tickets from the Holland Road Sentry Mart, said Detective G.D. Myrick of the Suffolk Police Department.

A 14-year-old girl was with Smith when he was arrested, he added.

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Smith, who is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail, was charged breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony, burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Myrick said.

He was also charged with another count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and felony hit and run stemming from an unrelated incident.

Police tracked Smith down after he began cashing in the winning scratch tickets at the Holland Road convenience store.

The number and barcode on the back of each lottery ticket electronically alerted store clerks that the ticket was stolen, Myrick said. The store then contacted police, who traced Smith back to the hotel.

Other charges may be pending against Smith, he said.

&uot;There have been several similar burglaries to businesses over the past nine to 12 months,&uot; Myrick said. &uot;The investigation is ongoing as we look into the other cases.&uot;

Detective A.S. Chandler is assisting with the investigation.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com