Staff report

RICHFIELD — A state prison system employee will have to report to work without several items, including his duty belt and a bulletproof vest, after someone broke into his truck Tuesday.

According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the officer parked his car on Wildlife Access Road in Richfield to go to his daughter’s birthday party Tuesday evening. When the party was over, he returned home. That was when he noticed several items were missing from the vehicle, a 1993 red Nissan.

The stolen gear is worth more than $1,100. The Sheriff’s Office report lists the following missing items: a Kobalt tool set; a canister of pepper spray; a duty belt; two holsters; a magazine pouch; handcuffs and a handcuff pouch; a bulletproof vest; a collapsible baton; a baton case; a uniform tie; and the state prison system ID card.

The duty belt and items attached to it are the property of the prison system.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700. Anonymous tips can be reported through Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.  Tips may be submitted online at http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org/.