A Salisbury Police officer patroling town Tuesday night caught someone red-handed while investigating an alarm at Papa Topps, 902 S. Main St.
Around 10:45 p.m., Officer Boyce W. Lomax was patrolling when he heard the alarm going off at Papa Topps. He noticed a window was broken in the front of the business and called other officers for backup.
Gregory Jerome Phillips, 48, of the streets of Salisbury, was found hiding in the store with several cartons of Newports and loose change.
“The bad guy here was quite surprised when we responded so quickly,” Deputy Chief Steve Whitley said. “Officer Lomax, we give him high praise because he was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing.
“He was being vigilant — good, aggressive, vigilant patrol.”
Phillips was charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and vandalism and given a $5,000 secured bond.