KITTERY, Maine — A Massachusetts man was arrested after stealing a semiautomatic tactical rifle from the Kittery Trading Post on Monday Afternoon, say police.
Kevin Murphy, 51, of Woburn, was arrested on charges he shoplifted the folding stock AR-15 rifle from the store by wrapping it in a store bag, said Kittery Police Chief Ed Strong
Murphy then fled with the weapon into the woods, where witnesses spotted him running, police said.
Strong said Murphy hid the weapon in the woods as police units responded at around 2:30 p.m. to a call the theft from an employee of the store.
Police were on the lookout for the suspect and Murphy was arrested just 20 minutes later, after he walked towards the Tanger Outlet Center, said Strong.
Murphy was charged with felony theft due to the retail value of the gun, but Chief Strong couldn't confirm the exact charges being filed.
Murphy is also being charged with felony possession of a gun because of his past criminal history, which includes arrests for armed robberies that he was convicted for in the past.
Police believe that Murphy was acting on his own accord and they do not anticipate any further arrests stemming from the alleged theft.
Murphy was held overnight at the York County Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned today in court.
Kevin Murphy, 51, of Woburn, was arrested on charges he shoplifted the folding stock AR-15 rifle from the store by wrapping it in a store bag, said Kittery Police Chief Ed Strong
Murphy then fled with the weapon into the woods, where witnesses spotted him running, police said.
Strong said Murphy hid the weapon in the woods as police units responded at around 2:30 p.m. to a call the theft from an employee of the store.
Police were on the lookout for the suspect and Murphy was arrested just 20 minutes later, after he walked towards the Tanger Outlet Center, said Strong.
Murphy was charged with felony theft due to the retail value of the gun, but Chief Strong couldn't confirm the exact charges being filed.
Murphy is also being charged with felony possession of a gun because of his past criminal history, which includes arrests for armed robberies that he was convicted for in the past.
Police believe that Murphy was acting on his own accord and they do not anticipate any further arrests stemming from the alleged theft.
Murphy was held overnight at the York County Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned today in court.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
![[rolleyes]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/042.gif "Roll Eyes [rolleyes]")
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I await the press release from the Brady Bunch.
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