Two suspects — one armed with a gun — robbed a business in the 1400 block of George Washington Highway in Chesapeake on September 23, making off with $177 in cash and $2,400 worth of Virginia Lottery tickets before fleeing toward Portsmouth. Chesapeake Police are now asking the public to help identify them.
According to WAVY.com, police say the first suspect was armed with a gun and stole $177 directly from the register, while the second suspect grabbed $2,400 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets. Both suspects then fled the business and were last seen heading toward the city of Portsmouth, police say.
The getaway route tracks with the geography of the area: George Washington Highway, also known as U.S. Route 17 Business, runs as a primary commercial corridor through Chesapeake's Deep Creek neighborhood and connects directly toward the Portsmouth city boundary, according to the City of Chesapeake.
A Block With a Violent Past
An Earlier Shooting on George Washington Highway This isn't the first time the 1400 block of George Washington Highway has drawn a heavy police response. In March 2023, the same block was the scene of an early-morning shooting that left a man hospitalized, as reported by 13News Now.
Statewide data published by the Virginia State Police shows violent crime victims in the Commonwealth dropped 5.9% in 2025 compared to the prior year, with reported robberies declining as well.
Why the Stolen Lottery Tickets May Be a Dead End for Suspects
The $2,400 haul in lottery tickets carries more legal weight than its face value might suggest. Under Virginia Code § 58.1-4018.1, stealing or unlawfully converting a lottery ticket is treated as larceny valued at whichever is greater — the ticket's face value or its potential redemption value — a distinction that can turn a modest theft into a significant felony count.
Cashing in the stolen tickets may prove difficult regardless. Virginia Lottery retailer guidelines require stolen scratch-off tickets to be reported immediately to police and Lottery Security so that officials can mark the activated ticket packs as lost or stolen, blocking any payout at authorized terminals. Separately, state administrative code holds licensed retailers financially responsible for lost or stolen scratch-off inventory once it's accepted, meaning the robbed business owner is left covering the cost of the missing tickets on top of the stolen cash.
Potential Charges If Suspects Are Caught
If identified and charged, the suspect accused of carrying the firearm could face robbery charges under Virginia law. Virginia has no separate offense of armed robbery; robbery under Virginia Code § 18.2-58 carries potential penalties ranging from five years to life in prison, according to Dischley Law, PLLC. A separate charge under Virginia Code § 18.2-53.1 for using a firearm during a felony carries a mandatory minimum of three years, which must be served consecutively to any robbery sentence, according to Dischley Law, PLLC.
How to Submit a Tip
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887). Tips can also be submitted online at P3Tips.com or through the P3Tips app. The Chesapeake Crime Line assigns callers a unique tip code rather than asking for their names, meaning tipsters are never required to identify themselves or testify in court. A tip that leads to an arrest, the recovery of drugs, or the recovery of stolen property can qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,500.
