Hardee's robbed; suspects sought

DURHAM -- Police are investigating an armed robbery Tuesday night at the Hardee's restaurant at 4607 S. Alston Ave.

The robbery was reported at 8:17 p.m. Two men entered the business and robbed it at gunpoint. One suspect fired a shot into the ceiling during the robbery, according to police spokeswoman Kammie Michael. No one was injured.

One suspect was described as a black man in his late teens or 20s, 5-foot-5 to 5-7, with a slight build. He had a mustache and some gold teeth. He was wearing a black ball cap, a black hoodie and black jeans.

The second suspect was described as a black man, in his late teens or early 20s, 5-8 to 5-11, with a medium build. He had short hair and "something wrong" with his right eye. He was wearing a white shirt, khaki pants, tennis shoes and a black jacket with skull and crossbones on it. He was carrying an umbrella.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Durham CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200.

Wanted suspect found at shelter

DURHAM -- Leander Lawrence Jr. was arrested Tuesday night at the homeless shelter on Liberty Street and placed in Durham County Jail under a $55,000 bond, police said.

Police had been trying to find Lawrence, 48, who was wanted for allegedly breaking into a house and several vehicles in the past six weeks.

He is charged with breaking into a house on Drew Street on Aug. 10 and breaking into six vehicles at Excel Auto Inc. on Ramseur Street Saturday.

Lawrence is charged with one count of breaking and entering, one count of larceny after breaking and entering, one count of felony conspiracy, six counts of breaking and entering to vehicles, seven counts of injury to property, one count of trespassing and two counts of felony larceny.

He was also wanted for parole violations on previous charges including being a habitual offender.

Thefts reported to authorities

DURHAM -- A rifle and laptop computer were among items stolen in recent thefts police are investigating. Here are the details:

n Nike shoes, a Sony PlayStation 2 and DVD players worth $240 were stolen from a home in the 200 block of Newsom Street Sept. 17.

n A rifle and camera equipment valued at $655 were taken from a home in the 1400 block of North Gregson Street Monday.

n Thieves took a Toshiba laptop computer worth $500 from a home in the 1100 block of Buchanan Boulevard Friday.

n A man said he was robbed of $1,100 in the 4000 block of North Roxboro Street Friday.

Contact Keith Upchurch at kupchurch@heraldsun.com or (919) 419-6612.