The Kinston Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying a man suspected of stealing several DeWalt items from Lowe's. Investigators shared the case, numbered 2621145, hoping someone in the community recognizes the man pictured and can point them toward a name.
According to wcti12.com, the department is specifically seeking tips on a man accused of walking off with multiple DeWalt tools from the Kinston store. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kinston Police Department at 252-939-3160 or reach out to Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444, the station reports.
The department posted details of the case on its Kinston Police Department Facebook page Thursday evening, asking the public to help identify the man in the photo.
A Familiar Pattern at Kinston Retailers
This isn't the first time Kinston police have turned to the public to crack a theft case at a local big-box store. Back in March 2024, officers released surveillance photos tied to three separate thefts from the same Lowe's Home Improvement on U.S. 70, according to witn.com. In all three of those cases, surveillance video reportedly caught people wheeling stolen merchandise out of the store using either a shopping cart or a dolly.
A few months later, in July 2024, police put out another appeal, this time asking whether anyone recognized three people allegedly involved in a separate Lowe's theft, the station's report noted. The recurring requests suggest Lowe's has been a frequent target for alleged shoplifters in the area, though the current case has not been confirmed as connected to those earlier incidents.
Other Local Retailers Have Faced Similar Thefts
Lowe's isn't the only Kinston retailer that has turned to the public for help solving theft cases. In December 2025, police described a man pictured in a separate appeal as a person of interest in an investigation into the larceny of a power tool from Harbor Freight, as reported by witn.com. A similar appeal regarding a Harbor Freight power tool theft was also detailed by wnct.com, which described the subject as a person of interest in an ongoing investigation.
More recently, in August, police said a person pictured in another appeal could be connected to a larceny at the Kinston Belk that occurred on August 14, per witn.com. Taken together, the appeals point to an ongoing challenge for Kinston police in tracking down suspects in retail theft cases across several of the city's stores.
For now, anyone who recognizes the man suspected in the Lowe's DeWalt theft is urged to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Lenoir County Crime Stoppers, or directly to Kinston police investigators working the case.
