$6,500 In Lottery Tickets Stolen At 8 Locations; Reston Man Arrested

RESTON, VA — A 39-year-old Reston man was arrested Thursday in connection with the theft of $6,500 worth of lottery tickets from eight locations in Fairfax County in September.

Officers responded on Sept. 15 for the report of a larceny and assault at a convenience store in the 2900 block of Chain Bridge Road in Oakton.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, later identified as Mohammad Akhtar, went behind the counter of the store and took lottery tickets while the clerk wasn’t looking, according to police. Akhtar then assaulted the clerk and left the scene on foot. The clerk sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators established that Akhtar was linked to eight similar cases in September, where more than $6,500 in lottery tickets were stolen, according to police.

On Thursday, detectives arrested Akhtar, charging him with grand larceny, five counts of larceny by false pretense, and five counts of petit larceny, according to FCPD. He was then held without bond in

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call FCPD’s Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 5. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers.”