Wes Cousins has tried to be a good neighbor, extending credit when customers at Information Grocery are short.

Now he hopes the customers he has stood behind and those who have stood behind him will help the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office solve a crime at his store at the intersection of Highway 903 and Highway 158.

Major Bruce Temple said the sheriff’s office is investigating a breaking, entering and larceny at the store where several cartons of Newport cigarettes and a 12 pack of Natural Light was stolen.

The break-in was reported by a passing motorist who observed at least four black males running from the store.

Cousins said the break-in and larceny occurred sometime between midnight and 12:45 this morning. “It looks like they were in and out real quick.”

The larceny, Cousins said, is bad for any store. “Being an independent, you run on a shoestring anyway. The loss of product hurts bad enough. The loss of the profit on the product is what really hurts.”

Cousins believes the sheriff’s office did an outstanding job investigating the case this morning. “I was very impressed with the investigators. They were very courteous and informative.”

He said dogs were called from the state Department of Correction and ran a track to a development in the area.

He believes with help from the sheriff’s office, Crimestoppers and the media, someone will come forward. “I feel like someone in the community knows something.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.