Burke County robbery suspects arrested after turning themselves in

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The two suspects wanted in connection with the Vidette Country Store robbery turned themselves in Tuesday evening, according to authorities.

Authorities say around 5 p.m., Sunilkumar and Pareshkumar Chaudhari were booked into the Burke County Detention Center on felony theft by taking and false report of a crime charges, after turning themselves in.

What was initially reported as a robbery at the Vidette Store on Tuesday, Burke County officials have now determined the incident was staged between two subjects.

On Feb. 27, The Burke County Sheriff’s Office announced they were searching for a suspect accused of an armed robbery at the Vidette County Store.

According to the sheriff’s office, they claimed that an unknown male entered the store, brandishing a firearm, and robbed them before fleeing.

Investigators believed the two individuals fled to Florida.

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Upon investigating the store’s surveillance footage, investigators learned that no robbery had taken place.

Attempts to reinterview them have been unsuccessful as the two “have reportedly left the state, and their current whereabouts are unknown,” according to authorities.

Investigators have reached out to “Immigration and Customs officials to facilitate the issuance of warrants for the Chaudhari’s. It is expected that both individuals will face multiple charges related to the falsified incident upon their apprehension,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The sheriff’s office says investigators believe this is part of a “growing trend among some nonimmigrant-status individuals to gain U-status visas that allow them to remain in the country for up to four additional years as victims of crimes.”