WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Burglar busts through wall to rob victims

Burglar busts through wall to rob victims

Written by Sarah Batista

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Police are investigating a string of break-ins at several Charlotte businesses in which they think were committed by the same man.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deparment, Trisco McFarland is responsible for the crimes.

They say McFarland breaks into vacant stores and digs a hole into the wall to gain access to the business next door.  Then, he waits for the employees to show up.

When Robert Williams dropped his wife off at the CitiTrends on Freedom Drive, he got the surprise of his life.

"As I started to pull away, I [saw] a man, I said that looks like a man scooting across the floor," said Robert Williams. 

From outside the store, Williams could see the suspect through the glass window.

The burglar was on the floor aiming a gun straight at Williams' wife.

Williams said the suspect wore a white mask and, "All you could see was his eyes and that big gun, I didn't know what to do."

Williams played it safe and called 911 from outside the business.

Meanwhile, his 65-year-old wife was doing her best to remain calm.

Williams said, "She put her hands on him and said 'Son, I'll give you everything we got, just don't hurt us.'" 

Police believe 21-year-old Trisco McFarland was behind the mask.  They also believe he pulled the same stunt twice last week at the ACE Cash Express on W.T. Harris Blvd and at the  Citifinancial on South Boulevard.

Each time police say MacFarland exits through a hole in the wall and escapes through a vacant business next door.

So far, no one has been injured. 

Williams believes his wife's prayer saved her.

"She always says a prayer to take care of her while she's at work."