By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó The Kannapolis Police Department recovered a vehicle that was stolen at knifepoint Wednesday afternoon.
According to a Rowan County Sheriffís Office report, Kannapolis Police located the parked gray 2003 Toyota Sienna about 7 p.m. Thursday at Whitleyís Car Wash, 1130 Dale Earnhardt Blvd.
The report did not indicate if arrests had been made.
The vehicle was taken from Yan Qui Zhao, owner of the Hong Kong Restaurant in Oak Avenue Mall in Kannapolis, about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Zhao gave the robber a ride home after the man asked for a lift from Zhaoís restaurant.
The suspect is a white man with short blond hair. He has no distinguishing marks, no visible tattoos and was clean shaven. He was wearing a white T-shirt and brown pants.
Zhao said he has never seen the suspect before.
Zhao told authorities that the man came into the restaurant and ordered some food. He then asked Zhao to give him a ride home. The man did not give Zhao his name.
After driving about 3 miles, the man told Zhao to stop at the 600 block of Spring Garden Avenue.
The man then held a long kitchen knife to Zhaoís throat and demanded all of his money and told him to get out of the vehicle. Zhao tried to get the knife away from his neck, cutting his hands in the process. He then gave the suspect $150 and got out of the vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-639-5245 or the Sheriffís Office at 704-216-8700.