(KAIR)--The vehicle that was allegedly stolen following a reported robbery at the Atchison Dollar General Store Wednesday was recovered early Thursday evening in rural Atchison County; and, since that time, police have apparently changed the focus of their investigation. 

Police Chief Mike Wilson, on Friday morning, told MSC News that investigators have determined that although crimes were committed, the case is not being considered a robbery as initially reported.  He did not elaborate further, saying only that leads are continuing to be followed. 

Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, Wilson called the discovery of the missing vehicle an essential clue in the ongoing investigation. “Sheriff' and Police investigators did locate that vehicle in the area of 322nd and Osborne Road in rural Atchison County, west of the city. We seized it and are now looking through it for any evidence that we can locate,” Wilson told MSC News. “It appears as if an attempt was made to burn the vehicle. That attempt was unsuccessful, the vehicle's basically intact.” 

 The vehicle had been driven by the female employee who reported that she had been met by the suspect as she unlocked the door to the store, located at 727 Kansas Avenue, around 6:00 Wednesday morning. She told police the suspect tied her up, leaving her for nearly two hours until another employee arrived for work.