From the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

On Nov. 15, 2013, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an attempted larceny at Cratch’s Mini Mart in Washington. Deputies responded and discovered that a suspect had attempted to gain entry into a Sweepstakes Machine money holder at the business.

Deputies searched two suspects and located numerous master keys and lock picking tools. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, reviewed video surveillance and conducted interviews. As a result, Investigator Jeremy Landeck applied for and obtained warrants charging Joseph Wayne Blizzard, 38, of Nahunta Road in Pikesville, with two counts of safecracking and two counts of possession of burglary tools and Edward Lewis Barns, 41, of Barns Pint Road in Tarheel, with one count of accessory after the fact.

Blizzard was arrested on Aug. 27 by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. He was held on a $4,000 secured bond. Barns is still at large. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Edward Lewis Barns is asked to contact Beaufort County Crime Stoppers by phone, text or through their website. Call 252-974-6400; text a tip anonymously by dialing 274637 on a cellphone and in the body of the message, type BCSO131 and the tip; or submit a tip through the Crime Stoppers website, www.beaufortcountycrimestoppers.com, by following the “Tip Line” link and filling out an online form. Calls, texts, and emails are anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to Barns’ arrest. Tipsters do not have to give their name to receive a reward.