CONWAY – A reward of $500 is in place from a local business.

The Food Center in Conway is offering the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who broke into the store late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

Conway Police Chief Billy Duke said a person or persons entered the grocery store after pulling the telephone lines out of the junction box behind the store.

&uot;They tried to gain entry at the back of the store, but were unable to gain entry,&uot; Duke said. &uot;They then went to the side door, which serves as the main entrance, and broke out the glass.&uot;

Duke said there were 20 cartons of cigarettes, mostly Newport, stolen from the store and that several areas were rummaged through, but there didn’t appear to have been any other items stolen.

The chief said he also received a complaint that the telephone lines at Trackside Grille, which is next door to the Food Center, were also pulled out of the junction box.

Duke said anyone with information about the incident could call the Conway Police Department at 585-1155 or Northampton Crimestoppers at 534-1110.

Another incident in Conway Wednesday night may or may not be related, according to Duke.

The chief said an elderly resident of Main Street was awakened at 11:30 p.m. by a knocking at the door and the doorbell ringing. When the resident approached the door, it was kicked in.

The alert victim yelled for another person to grab a gun and the person breaking into the home fled.

Duke said he also needed any information that people may have on that incident.