Belmont woman escapes attempt by Tilton police to serve arrest warrant related to theft from Walmart

BELMONT — Law enforcement from Tilton, Belmont, and the State Police converged on a Union Road home yesterday afternoon in an attempt to arrest a local woman for her alleged role in a theft from Walmart on Monday afternoon.

Brandy McGirr, 26, apparently fled out the back door before police could execute a search warrant, however, and was still at large on Tuesday night.

Tilton Police said the incident began Monday just after 3:30 p.m. when they got a call of a theft at Walmart. Security employees told police a man, dressed in a blue hooded sweatshirt, had ran from the store and jumped into a silver Chevy Silverado pickup.

When Patrol Officer William Patton responded, he saw the pickup, which he noted was being driven by a woman, passing cars on the right in an attempt to flee the parking lot and road leading from Walmart.

He pulled over the truck and recognized Daniel A. Mason, 27,of 368 Union Road in Belmont as the passenger. A second male passenger gave him identification showing he was from Belmont.

The driver identified herself as Kara Hughes. Patton said there were 12 X-Box and 2 Play Station 3 video games on the front seat wrapped in a shirt. The allegedly stolen items are valued at $780.

Patton drafted arrest warrants for the woman who identified herself as Hughes for criminal liability for the conduct of another and for Mason for willful concealment. He said police then contacted Mason and the woman who said she was Hughes but lost telephone contact with them.

Patton said Tilton Police notified Belmont Police and they met jointly at 368 Union Road.

Belmont Capt. Mark Lewandowski arrived first and told Tilton Police he saw a woman fitting Hughes's description jump out of a silver pickup and run into the house.

Patton said several attempts to contact the woman who said she was Hughes failed so they applied for and were granted a search warrant to enter the home.

Police also called the home's owner, who met them there and allowed them inside.

Patton said the home was empty but they learned the real name of the woman they sought was McGirr, Daniel Mason's girlfriend.

Police noticed footprints leading from the back of the house through the backyard and were able to track McGirr to a nearby road. They believe she contacted someone who picked her up at that spot.

Patton said McGirr has an extensive criminal record in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where she was convicted of giving a false name to police.

While police prepared additional charges for McGirr that include operating after suspension and disobeying a police officer, State Police Trooper Ron Taylor went to Mason's place of employment and arrested him on the willful concealment charge.

Anyone with any information on McGirr's whereabouts is asked to call the Tilton Police at 286-4442.