All news

Suspects arrested after gas station break-in by axe-wielding thieves

The suspects, caught on video with masks and a stolen case of scratchers, are now in police custody.

A screenshot from the security footage, shows the two suspects at the scene of the crime.
A screenshot from the security footage, shows the two suspects at the scene of the crime. Photograph credit to the Duncan Police Department.
Todd Betzold
Add lotteryusa.com as a preferred source on Google

Halloween may be over, but these thieves seem to think otherwise. Early Sunday morning, two masked suspects — one sporting a “Scream” hoodie and wielding an axe — smashed their way into an Oklahoma convenience store and made off with a case of Oklahoma Lottery scratchers.

As police were searching for the suspects, who have now been arrested, there seemed to be more questions than answers that popped up.

The robbery

Around 5:15 a.m. CT on Sunday, December 1, 2024, two suspects broke into a Chisholm Corner, located at 211 E. Chestnut Ave. in Duncan.

The duo were caught on surveillance cameras, with one of the suspects wearing a “Scream” hoodie while carrying an axe. Both of the suspects were seen wearing masks at the time of the robbery.

In the footage, the pair can be seen running off with a case of Oklahoma Lottery scratch-off tickets.

The public's help was needed

After obtaining the video footage from the robbery, police posted photos of the suspects on their Facebook page.

The Duncan Police Department said the pair were slender men wearing gloves and masks. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Duncan Police Department.

Updates on the case

After the original post went live on Facebook, police updated it with more photos. They now had a person and vehicle of interest for the break-in.

Police noted that the tag on the vehicle's license plate did not match the vehicle, so they seemed to have more questions than answers.

However, those questions were answered, as police released another update saying the suspects have now been located.

Big winner on Oklahoma Lottery scratcher

The thieves must have heard about a recent Oklahoma man who hit it big on a scratch-off ticket, which is why they tried to steal a case of them.

Possibly, but that lucky man was Frank, a resident of Harrah. He recently claimed the top prize on the $3 Million Mania scratcher.

The winning ticket was purchased at an EZ Mart in Harrah, and Frank made his way to the Oklahoma Lottery Winner Center to claim his winnings.

With the winnings in his possession now, Frank is going to be sharing the love this holiday season. He told lottery officials that he plans on buying a new home for his daughter and her family.

Frank happened to be the first person to claim the top prize in the $3 Million Mania game. That means there is still one top prize remaining in the game.

Making millionaires in Oklahoma

With Frank's big win, he became the Oklahoma Lottery's 85th millionaire.

The Oklahoma Lottery has been paying out those winnings, too, as they paid out over $271 million in prizes to players last fiscal year.

Since the lottery launched, they have generated more than $1.32 billion in funds that have been given to the Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund. These funds are then appropriated into school budgets by the State Legislature. From there, the funds are then allocated for use by the District Administration.

Enjoy playing the Oklahoma Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

A California SuperLotto ticket.
Why lotteries love giving losing tickets a second chance

Learn how a losing lottery ticket can get you to the Super Bowl.

Alex Cramer profile pic

Alex Cramer

He tried to cash a €10M scratch-off. There was just one problem
He tried to cash a €10M scratch-off. There was just one problem

A man allegedly showed up with a taped-together ticket and a jackpot claim twice the game's top prize.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

A Walgreens store front.
Hoosier Lottery and Walgreens team up for a retail first

The first state lottery deal brings scratch-offs, Fast Play, and draw games to nearly all Walgreens in Indiana.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
A lottery ticket machine.
Featured
Draw games vs. eInstants: What’s the real state of the market?

You may be surprised by what the data suggests about player preferences.

Laura Gariepy profile pic

Laura Gariepy

Kentucky Lottery's CEO and President Maggie Garrison.
Kentucky Lottery hit $8b. What was behind this record-breaking year?

In this exclusive interview, CEO and President Maggie Garrison explains how they are improving on their winning formula.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

A "Claim now" notification over a white background.
Lottery winners keep missing deadlines. Is it time for a better system?

Technology has transformed how we play, but an old-fashioned deadline can still wipe out a fortune.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The Powerball and Mega Millions logos over a yellow background with stars.
Lottery fever hits $1B as jackpots keep getting bigger

Powerball and Mega Millions lead the way, but five state jackpots are giving players even more to dream about.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold