Man charged after stealing $6.5K worth of lottery tickets in Virginia

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A man is facing charges after Fairfax County police discovered he stole more than $6,500 worth of lottery tickets in September.

On September 15, officers responded to a convenience store in the 2900 block of Chain Bridge Road in Oakton for the report of a theft and assault.

Officers learned that a man – later identified as Mohammad Akhtar, 39, of Reston – went behind the counter and stole lottery tickets while the clerk was distracted, officials said.

When the employee turned around, Akhtar attacked him before leaving on foot, officials said. The employee suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

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Through an investigation, officers determined that Akhtar was connected to several cases involving stolen lottery tickets valued at over $6,500 in September.

The tickets were stolen from the following locations:

• Sept. 11 in the 8600 block of Park Street in Dunn Loring
• Sept. 13 in the 8600 block of Park Street in Dunn Loring
• Sept. 15 in the 2900 block of Chain Bridge Road in Oakton
• Sept. 16 in the 2200 block of Gallows Road in Dunn Loring
• Sept. 18 in the 8300 block of Leesburg Pike in Tysons
• Sept. 19 in the 9400 block of Old Burke Lake Road in Burke
• Sept. 19 in the 9400 block of Old Burke Lake Road in Burke
• Sept. 25 in the 14500 block of Lee Road in Chantilly

On September 26, Akhtar was arrested and charged with theft. He is being held without bail at the Fairfax County Detention Center, officials said.