'Crime of Opportunity' crook: Customer-turned-robber snatches cash right from counting clerk's hands
WANTED IN SEATTLE -- Some simple advice for store clerks: Don't count money out in the open like two Seattle Rite Aid workers did -- especially right behind the register where a customer-turned-crook can cash-in on an easy crime of opportunity. “I honestly wonder whether the suspect in this case even was deciding to pull a robbery,” says Ret. Det. Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. “The clerk on duty was standing there, had the till open, was counting out a pretty large sum of money with another clerk. The suspect walks up and if you notice he puts down, it looks like some tape, or something he was going to purchase. All of a sudden you notice his eyes kind of get wide. He looks over and he sees the opportunity, at that point he reaches for the clerks hand, grabs it, there's a brief struggle, he rips the money out of her hands and then takes off running out the store. As I view this video I see some things that these clerks really need to learn and I'm not picking on them, it’s just anybody else that runs a business needs to understand that anytime you're counting money you never do it in public. Go to your office, go out of sight somewhere, it's good to take a witness, yes, but never count it in the open, particularly when you have customers, because who knows, if they'd have been kind of off-site counting there money this robbery might not have taken place."
It happened at the Rite Aid on Rainier Ave. S. in Seattle. Detectives describe the suspect as black, around 5’8” and 150 pounds. He had on a black beanie with a logo on it and wore a pretty distinctive big, blue backpack. If you recognize him,. call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers