Court of Appeals of North Carolina June 4, 2002, COA01-776 (State v. Edwards)

TYSON, Judge.

I. Facts

On 25 May 2000, Ronald Ross Edwards (“defendant”) entered the Ace Hardware in Kinston, North Carolina. Defendant removed a saw, a drill set, a trimmer, and spray paint from the shelves and carried the items to the cashier. Defendant presented a “Purchase Order” from his employer, Curtis and Curtis, Inc., and attempted to have the items charged to their account.