Robber holds up Dollar Tree store, takes cash and employee’s T-shirt

February 27, 2013
Santa Paula Police Department

A robber held up the local Dollar Tree store Saturday evening, a crime that included the suspect telling three store employees to stay put before he fled the scene, but not before he got one of the employee’s work T-shirt.

According to SPPD Detective Allen Macias, the robbery was reported to police on February 23 at about 10:20 p.m. The Dollar Tree, located at 588 W. Main St. in the Santa Paula Shopping Center, had closed at 10 p.m. 

Macias said an unidentified woman employee told responding officers “She was in an office with two co-workers” while money was being counted at a table. “She heard a male subject yell, ‘Get on the ground,’” as he ordered her two coworkers to the floor. Then the suspect told the woman employee “not to look at him.” Macias said the woman was told by the suspect “to put all the money from the safe, which was open,” into a bag. 

An employee told police although they did not see a weapon, the suspect “had his right hand at the waistband of his jacket and the witness assumed he had a gun... and the suspect did say he didn’t want to hurt anyone, he just wanted the money.... Fearing for her safety, as she believed the suspect would hurt her,” Macias said the woman employee complied with the robber’s demands.

“The suspect grabbed the bag, told her to lay on the ground and put her face down,” and as he was leaving the suspect “told the other two employees to stay on the ground and not move.”

The victims told police the suspect was 40 to 45 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a “heavy build” and an estimated weight of about 200 pounds. He had long hair and was wearing a dark blue jacket, black jeans and a gray baseball cap.

At least that’s what the suspect was wearing then: “One thing interesting,” said Macias, “is the suspect ordered one of the victims to remove his Dollar Tree shirt” with its distinctive bright green logo “and give it to him.... The employee said he took it off and gave him the shirt.” Although the victim told police the suspect said something after he gave him the shirt, Macias said, he did not hear what it was.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Michael Hoppin at (805) 525-4474 ext. 287. If the caller would prefer to remain anonymous, they can call the SPPD recorded Tip Hotline, 933-4253-1-#.

Those with information can also call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). Ventura County Crime Stoppers can also be contacted by texting “Busted” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stopper Tips can also be sent via the website, www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org.   

Tipsters may be eligible to receive a $1,000 reward.





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