Man Arrested for Stealing Lottery Tickets in Virginia

Mohammad Akhtar, a 39-year-old man from Reston, was arrested for allegedly stealing over $6,500 worth of lottery tickets from various convenience stores across Fairfax County in September. The investigation began on September 15 after an incident at a store in Oakton where Akhtar assaulted a clerk while stealing tickets. Following a series of thefts, which included eight locations, police connected Akhtar to the crimes through surveillance footage and witness accounts. He has been charged with grand larceny, multiple counts of larceny by false pretense, and petit larceny, and is currently held without bond. The stolen tickets primarily consisted of high-value scratch-off tickets, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident highlights concerns about crime in the area, prompting community engagement regarding safety.