Man hides in ceiling, burglarizes Raleigh bar

The thief took about $6,000, liquor and two laptops from The Goat, 5111 Western Blvd., this past weekend.

Brandon Laroque, owner of The Goat, believes the man got into the bar with the help of an accomplice on Saturday night.

Surveillance video shows that hours before the burglary, a woman let a man from outside into the ladies’ restroom. Minutes later, the woman left the restroom, but the man didn’t.

“He climbs up in the ceiling tiles and waits for about five or six hours while they are cleaning,” Laroque said.

After the restroom was empty, the thief climbed down and robbed the bar. 

Laroque says times are tough in the bar business and the loss hurts.

Laroque believes this is the second time his business has been burglarized by the same man.

On March 14, Laroque said the thief was in the ceiling, but he came down too early. Bartenders were still at work and chased him to his getaway car.

Ba Da Wings, at nearby 161 Avent Ferry Road, was also robbed this past weekend. Police said that thief also likely hid in the ceiling.