Raleigh Family Dollar cashier hid, eluded armed robber
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A Family Dollar Store employee locked himself inside a back room Tuesday night after a man held him up at gunpoint, demanding money, Raleigh Police said.
Three customers and two employees were inside the store in the 2000 block of Rock Quarry Road near I-40 when the suspect reportedly barged into the store shortly before 10 p.m.
The store manager was in the back of the store when the suspect entered. After hearing the commotion, the manager pushed the alarm and exited the rear of the building.
As the teenaged cashier saw a man with his face covered head toward the store's entrance, he hid by one of the displays. Once the robber entered the store, he demanded money from the cashier, who then jumped over the front counter and ran to the back of the store and frantically called 911.
Authorities believe the suspect followed the employee, but got lost in the store.
Empty-handed, the suspect then left the store and noticed the manager outside and chased him into a wooded area behind the establishment.
Police arrived quickly and entered the store with guns drawn, looking for the suspect.
The three shoppers and store manager were able to escape before police arrived.
Nobody was injured.
Authorities say the suspect was dressed in black with a black and white bandanna and a handgun.
They have a vague description of the suspect, but images were captured on surveillance video. However, they have not been released by police.
Family Dollar sent ABC11 a statement:
Please know that the safety and security of our customers and Associates is our first priority.
Family Dollar has proudly operated stores in the Raleigh-area for many years, and we strive to create a safe work and shopping environment by tailoring our store operations and security for each store.
We have policies and rigorous trainings in place to best respond to store safety and security incidents, and we are continually enhancing our on-premise security and surveillance systems, and our employee training, to reduce the incidence of robberies. While I am unable to go into all of the specifics regarding our security measures, Family Dollar continually evaluates the needs of each of our stores on a case-by-case basis. - Bryn Winburn, Family Dollar
If you have any information about the incident, you are asked to contact police.
