LGBT video shop Spruce Street Video was robbed by a man purporting to have a gun Monday night.
The man entered the store, at 252 S. 12th St., around 5 p.m. and indicated to the clerk that he had a gun in his pocket, and ordered him to empty the cash register.
The robber made off with $110.
A few minutes before the robbery, store owner Franny Price said she and her partner were sitting in their car in front of the store when they noticed two suspicious men outside.
She described them as a black male in his early 30s, about 5-foot-10, and a while male in his late 20s, about 5-foot-9.
Price said she had never seen either man in the neighborhood before, which alerted her.
“I was in the car getting it warmed up, and I saw the black guy go down the steps to the video store then turn right around and come back and connect with the white guy, who looked like a hustler. I said, ‘They’re up to no good,’” Price said. “I’m guessing there were too many people in the store right then when the first guy went in. And the white guy went in and bought a lollipop and came back out.”
Price and her partner pulled away and were only about six blocks from the shop when the clerk, who had just started his shift, called to report the robbery.
The clerk said the robber, who fit Price’s description of the black man who had been outside, lifted his jacket pocket and said he “would blow your brains out” if he didn’t give him all of the money in the register. He did not actually produce a gun.
Because of the recent shift change, the amount of money in the register was minimal, although Price noted that the store rarely keeps a lot of money on hand.
“Anybody with sense would know not to rob a video store,” she said. “We deal mostly with credit cards and people who have pre-paid rental plans and who pay in advance. But these people are stupid and just see people and think money.”
Price said she suspects that the assailant knew the owner had just left.
The employee contacted police, who were immediately on the scene. The officers dusted for fingerprints and brought the clerk to the station for a report.
Police looked at surveillance from 12th Street Gym, although neither suspect was seen on the tape. A nearby house has a surveillance camera outside but Price said police haven’t yet been able to contact the owners.
Price said the situation highlights the need for residents and business owners with surveillance cameras to register their devices with the city.
Deputy Commissioner Steven Johnson, who serves as the LGBT liaison, said the robbery does not appear to be part of any kind of pattern in the area.
“We have some information indicating that the perpetrator cased the place prior to committing the crime so we need to stress that if anyone sees anything at all suspicious, always take a minute to call us,” Johnson said.
Police do not currently have any suspects, he said.
On Monday night, Price purchased a surveillance system for the store.
This marks only the second robbery in the store’s 28-year history.
Price commended the employee for his actions.
“He did all the right things,” she said. “We don’t want people trying to be heroes, just give them what they ask for. He’s the youngest person I have working there, and no one should have to experience that.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].