An employee at a Kirkwood Mall store spotted a burglar tucked away above a storage area, but three suspects got away before employees could call police.

Bismarck Police Sgt. Mark Buschena said an employee at Foot Locker found a back door propped open when he went to take the garbage out at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The employee called for mall security, then found boxes and clothing in an aisle in a back room. He heard a sound above him, climbed a ladder and saw a man hiding in the area above the storage room.

Buschena said the employee went to tell his boss to call the police, and they heard the back door slam. They ran to the door and saw three males running west from the mall with two garbage bags of merchandise.

Buschena said the man who was spotted in the storage area was described as 24 or 25 years old, about 6 feet 1 inch tall and 220 pounds, with brown hair. He was wearing a tan Carhartt coat.

Another suspect was described as 6 feet 4 inches tall and 190 pounds. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, black jeans and a cap with a white emblem on it. A third suspect was described as about 15 years old, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and 100 pounds. He was wearing a T-shirt and long black shorts.

Anyone with information about the burglary or the suspects is asked to call the Bismarck Police Department at 223-1212 or Bismarck Area Crime Stoppers at 224-TIPS (224-8477).

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)