Shoplifter Finds Black Friday Doesn't Mean Free Stuff

A Rocky Mount man tried to find too good a deal on Black Friday: Police say he stole more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from stores at Cary Towne Center.

Cary police received calls about a suspicious looking man carrying things from a loading dock at the mall to his car. Officers ran the tag of the car and discovered it had been stolen.

When Paul Leon Lee, 40, noticed security watching him, he ran into the woods next to the mall, Sgt. T. Dezomits, with Cary Police Department, said. Police did not chase Lee, but waited for him in an unmarked car.

Lee came out of the woods and approached the car again around 8:45 p.m. Police went into arrest him, and Lee attempted to run but was caught, Dezomits said.

Inside the car, police found $5,000 worth of merchandise taken from various stores. Most of the goods were from the Children's Place, Abercrombie & Fitch and Bath & Body Works. All the stolen merchandise was returned to the stores.

Lee was charged with felony larceny and possession of stolen goods.