HAMLET — Police recently charged a man and woman accused of stealing various items from a local variety store.
Marion Little, 65, of Crestview Drive in Rockingham, and 37-year-old Tina Rankin, of Hamlet Avenue, were each served a criminal summons last week after investigators say they were caught on camera shoplifting from Family Dollar in Hamlet.
Although both were scene on surveillance video, Detective Capt. Randy Dover said only Little’s photo was posted on Facebook to ask the public’s help in identification.
According to a summons issued Jan. 23, Little stole two sets of earphones, two speakers, Febreze plug refills, 12 necklaces, a T-shirt, a set of hair clippers and assorted clothes from the store on Jan. 18. The total value of the items is estimated at $198.
A summons for Rankin was issued Jan. 24, alleging that she made off with two packs of assorted T-shirts, valued at $18, on Jan. 8.
Little and Rankin were each served with a criminal summons charging them with misdemeanor larceny. Both are scheduled to appear in court Feb. 21.
Online court records show neither has any other pending charges.
Rankin was convicted of driving while impaired in Union County in 2001, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
Little, however, has a much more extensive criminal background with previous convictions in four counties.
His record dates back to the mid-1970s when he was convicted on felony charges of common law robbery, forgery and receiving stolen goods in Richmond County. Records show he attempted to escape prison while serving time in Anson County.
Little was released in 1984 after spending nearly a decade behind bars. He soon wound up back in the slammer for another three years following 1986 convictions of common law robbery and breaking and entering.
In 1989, Little received four consecutive sentences when he was convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts each of felony larceny and breaking and entering in Cumberland County.
Little was released in 2001, but just days after his probation expired in April 2002, he was again convicted, this time in Rowan County on charges of first-degree kidnapping, common law robbery, larceny and fleeing to elude arrest.
Records show Little was released March 28, 2018 and his parole ended Dec. 23 — less than a month prior to his most recent alleged crime.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
