Beren
Moderator Emeritus
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/westmoreland/s_176294.html
"After failing to steal anything from a Delmont grocery store Friday night, an armed robber apparently hit pay dirt a few miles down the road in Apollo.
Police in both towns are seeking assistance in solving the robberies.
The first attempt at robbery took place around 7 p.m. when a tall, thin white man walked into Fatur's Foodland in Delmont, brandished a silver handgun and ordered about 30 customers and 10 employees to get on the floor.
According to Delmont police Chief Tim Klobucar, the robber unsuccessfully tried to get money out of registers.
Klobucar said an employee sneaked out a rear door and ran to a nearby pizza shop to call for help. Police were able to contact a manager, who was in an office watching the attempted robbery take place on video surveillance equipment.
The cameras showed the man going around the store, yelling at people to get down, even as new customers walked in, unaware of what was taking place.
T.J. Gabrie, 19, of Slickville, was working at the deli counter, slicing lunch meat, when a group of customers walked behind the counter, telling him that someone was robbing the store. After about a minute, he said, the man came up to the counter, yelling for someone to go up front and open the cash registers.
The customers told the robber that there was no one standing there who could do that. The man then ran back to the front of the store, Gabriel said.
Klobucar said the robber ran out and drove off in a Green Ford Focus driven by a woman.
Police at first thought the robber had taken hostages. Patrolman Chad Piontka was first to arrive and began taking customers out under the protection of a shield. Klobucar said neighbor brought out jackets and blankets for the customers who were stuck while the police investigated.
"That's what Delmont is about," he said. "Everybody pulls together."
About 40 minutes later, a man fitting the same description walked into Oliver's IGA in Apollo, pointed a gun at the clerks behind the lottery counter and demanded money in specific denominations.
Apollo police Chief Robin Davis said the robber told the clerks not to activate any alarms. The robber made off with an undetermined amount of money from cash registers and an office, she said.
Davis said that, after the man got the money, he ordered the clerks to get on the floor. By this time, customers who had been shopping in the back of store were moving toward the front.
Davis said the clerks had the presence of mind to tell the customers that the store was being robbed and that they should get on the floor.
The robber ran out of the store and sped off in a pickup truck.
Police said they believe it was the same man in both stores because witnesses' descriptions matched.
The robber is between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5 and was wearing a ski mask and hooded sweatshirt. One witness described him as "basketball tall."
Police also are looking for a white woman who was seen driving the Focus that left Fatur's.
In Apollo, the robber was seen leaving in a full-size, newer-model pickup truck with a short bed. Davis said it was possibly a silver or gold Chevy.
Delmont police have surveillance-tape footage. Apollo police have footprints and tire tracks.
No one was hurt in either incident, but managers at both stores said their employees were shaken up.
Police have asked that anyone with information call Delmont police at 724-468-8501 or Apollo police at 724-478-3091.
Sam Kusic can be reached at [email protected] or 724-626-3544."
...
So, what's the proper way to handle such a situation? Obey the gun wielder's demands and get on the floor? Run? Draw and shoot when his attention is elsewhere?
"After failing to steal anything from a Delmont grocery store Friday night, an armed robber apparently hit pay dirt a few miles down the road in Apollo.
Police in both towns are seeking assistance in solving the robberies.
The first attempt at robbery took place around 7 p.m. when a tall, thin white man walked into Fatur's Foodland in Delmont, brandished a silver handgun and ordered about 30 customers and 10 employees to get on the floor.
According to Delmont police Chief Tim Klobucar, the robber unsuccessfully tried to get money out of registers.
Klobucar said an employee sneaked out a rear door and ran to a nearby pizza shop to call for help. Police were able to contact a manager, who was in an office watching the attempted robbery take place on video surveillance equipment.
The cameras showed the man going around the store, yelling at people to get down, even as new customers walked in, unaware of what was taking place.
T.J. Gabrie, 19, of Slickville, was working at the deli counter, slicing lunch meat, when a group of customers walked behind the counter, telling him that someone was robbing the store. After about a minute, he said, the man came up to the counter, yelling for someone to go up front and open the cash registers.
The customers told the robber that there was no one standing there who could do that. The man then ran back to the front of the store, Gabriel said.
Klobucar said the robber ran out and drove off in a Green Ford Focus driven by a woman.
Police at first thought the robber had taken hostages. Patrolman Chad Piontka was first to arrive and began taking customers out under the protection of a shield. Klobucar said neighbor brought out jackets and blankets for the customers who were stuck while the police investigated.
"That's what Delmont is about," he said. "Everybody pulls together."
About 40 minutes later, a man fitting the same description walked into Oliver's IGA in Apollo, pointed a gun at the clerks behind the lottery counter and demanded money in specific denominations.
Apollo police Chief Robin Davis said the robber told the clerks not to activate any alarms. The robber made off with an undetermined amount of money from cash registers and an office, she said.
Davis said that, after the man got the money, he ordered the clerks to get on the floor. By this time, customers who had been shopping in the back of store were moving toward the front.
Davis said the clerks had the presence of mind to tell the customers that the store was being robbed and that they should get on the floor.
The robber ran out of the store and sped off in a pickup truck.
Police said they believe it was the same man in both stores because witnesses' descriptions matched.
The robber is between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5 and was wearing a ski mask and hooded sweatshirt. One witness described him as "basketball tall."
Police also are looking for a white woman who was seen driving the Focus that left Fatur's.
In Apollo, the robber was seen leaving in a full-size, newer-model pickup truck with a short bed. Davis said it was possibly a silver or gold Chevy.
Delmont police have surveillance-tape footage. Apollo police have footprints and tire tracks.
No one was hurt in either incident, but managers at both stores said their employees were shaken up.
Police have asked that anyone with information call Delmont police at 724-468-8501 or Apollo police at 724-478-3091.
Sam Kusic can be reached at [email protected] or 724-626-3544."
...
So, what's the proper way to handle such a situation? Obey the gun wielder's demands and get on the floor? Run? Draw and shoot when his attention is elsewhere?
, Art
