Dollar store held up 3 times in 6 weeks

8/11/2012

For the third time in six weeks, the same West Toledo dollar store has been robbed.

Toledo police are hoping someone knows who robbed the Family Dollar, 1135 W. Sylvania Ave., the night of Aug. 4 .

A man with a white T-shirt pulled over his face walked into the store and reportedly said, "This is a robbery."

He then reportedly lifted his shirt, revealing the grip of a handgun, and ordered a store employee to open the safe. After the employee complied, the suspect waited for 10 minutes for the safe time lock to open and in the meantime had the victim unlock cash register drawers, authorities said.

Once the safe opened, the gunman emptied the safe of cash, took cash from the drawers, and ran out of the store, according to the police report. He was last seen southbound on Drexel Drive.

According to the police report, the man is described as black, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The report did not mention his age.

On July 11, the same store was robbed at 10 p.m. by an armed man who fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The robber was described as black, in his 20s, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

On June 25, the store was robbed at 9:52 p.m. by an armed man who fled with about $1,400.

That robber was described similarly by police as black, in his mid-20s, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers program.