CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Masks are a critical tool in the fight against coronavirus, but now they’re being used as camouflage for criminals.
With so many people wearing masks for their own personal safety, thieves are capitalizing on it. They have used masks in at least a half dozen crimes in Charlotte in April.
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A police source told Channel 9′s Allison Latos that since the pandemic hit, criminals have been preying on people and businesses by wearing the type of mask we would use to protect ourselves against COVID-19 to disguise their identity.
Channel 9 went through a half dozen police reports for robberies, burglaries and shoplifting cases across Charlotte that the source told Allison about.
At the American Legion on Brookshire Boulevard, someone broke in and stole the cash register. And at the 7-Eleven on Central Avenue, Channel 9 was told the thief walked in wearing a mask, picked up cigarettes and drinks, then got away without paying.
Before the pandemic hit the area, seeing someone with a mask or face covering would probably catch our attention and maybe make people suspicious. Now, the source said sadly, it’s not strange until it’s too late.
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Officers have also said they’ve seen an increase in business break-ins.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said commercial burglaries are up 13% from this time last year. Commercial robberies have also increased 34% in the same time frame.
It’s unclear what type of masks were used in these crimes, but we know they can be very difficult to find.
On Thursday, the state said it has less than a 30-day supply of N95 masks, which are used by our medical workers.
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