Couple accused of trying to start fire at bank to cover up theft from business

Colorado Springs Police say a couple conspired to steal money from an east side convenience store and then started a fire at a bank to cover it up.

A glass jar filled with gasoline was placed in the drop box at the Wells Fargo in the 5400 block of N. Academy Bld. on September 8.

Police say surveillance video showed a man on a bicycle trying to light the jar on fire and then putting it in the drop box.

On September 23, police investigated a robbery at the Circle K in the 3800 block of Maizeland Road.

Investigators suspected an inside job when they learned the robber took a considerable sum from the store — far more than should have been stored there

Investigators learned that the store manager, Joy Tomlinson, 26, had not deposited store money into the bank for several days. They say she couldn’t offer a good explanation about why.

Police say surveillance video from the Wells Fargo showed that the bicycle that was used by the arsonist matched a bicycle found in the garage of Tomlinson’s Fountain home. They say electronic communications between Tomlinson and her live in boyfriend, Lee Laurie, 32, also implicated them.

Colorado Springs Police accuse Tomlinson and Laurie of conspiring to steal from the convenience store and then set fire to the contents of the Wells Fargo drop box to cover up the lack of funds that should have been deposited. Investigators suspect Laurie of being the man who robbed the convenience store.

Tomlinson and Laurie face charges for theft and arson.

Additional charges are possible.