Burglary suspect yanked from moped, escapes

Interrupted by a Staunton homeowner during a burglary attempt Monday morning, Matthew S. Carr, 28, raced from the front door to the moped as the victim futilely gave chase, authorities said. When the victim’s wife spotted the moped on a nearby street, she yanked Carr to the ground, authorites said. Still, he managed to get away.

“She snatched him right off of it,“ said Lt. D.M. Back of the Augusta County Sherriff’s Office.

Carr is wanted on breaking and entering charges.

Back said the burglary was broken up at 11:30 a.m. on Walnut Ridge Lane. A man pulled into his driveway and saw the yellow moped parked out front.

“All of a sudden, out comes this guy from the front door, running,“ Back said.

The victim’s wife spotted the moped in the 1900 block of Churchville Avenue, Back said.

“She gets out and confronts him,“ Back said. “He goes to pull out and she jerks him off the moped.“

The sheriff’s office and Staunton police worked with the woman to identify Carr. Nothing was missing from the home, but authorities said they found some damage.

Victims jerking suspects off mopeds is unusual - and ill-advised, Back said.

“We don’t ever, ever encourage anyone to confront someone like that,“ he said.

Court records show Carr previously served prison time for a 2004 burglary.
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Tony Gonzalez is a staff writer for The News Virginian in Waynesboro, Va.