It was a hell of a plan.
A North Dakota man has been arrested for soaking a Bible in lighter fluid and setting it aflame in order to create a diversion in an attempt to steal goods.
Andrew Ells, 27, confessed to cops that he wore a disguise including “a camouflage balaclava” to torch the Bible in the store’s gardening section, a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun shows.
Security video viewed by law enforcement shows Ells disappear behind boxes in the gardening section before the fire starts. He then fled through an emergency exit.
Ells reportedly had the Bible with him when he arrived at the store, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
No explanation was given as to why he chose to burn a Bible to cause the distraction, or if he was actually able to make off with any goods.
The bible was only “partially burned” and nobody was injured, the affidavit said.
Walmart store manager Charley Lorenz estimated $300,000 worth of merchandise was lost due to smoke damage.
Ells was arrested at 4 a.m. on Monday and was charged with two felony counts — one for arson and another for endangering by fire or explosion, the Tribune reported.
He is being held in the Burleigh Morton Detention Center. His bond has been set as $25,000 cash bail, and he is to have no contact with Walmart, KFYR-TV reported.