Man robbed elderly woman of her keys and car, was caught after her vehicle broke down: report

A man robbed an elderly woman at a convenience store and was caught after the vehicle he stole broke down, police said.

This week, deputies with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina responded to a Circle K for a reported larceny. When deputies arrived, they learned a man forcefully took an elderly woman’s keys and her 1998 Oldsmobile car.

The suspect was identified as Walter Ray Sykes and police asked for help finding him and the stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators learned Sykes might have been in neighboring Alamance County. There, Alamance County Sheriff’s deputies saw the vehicle and tried to stop Sykes. But he fled.

The chase ended after the vehicle had mechanical failure, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office noted.

Sykes was arrested and charged with common law robbery, assault on a female, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and felony flee to elude. His bond was set at $120,000.