Reply to Armed Robbery at my Grocery Store
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Yesterday at work I was the victim of an armed robbery along with all the other employees at the time.
I was working until midnight doing "tag" duty which is the company word for changing the prices you see for an item. There were two groups of employees there one for tags and the stockers who were refilling the shelves. In total about ten of us.
Right before midnight when I was just about to stop I saw a man at the end of the aisle I was working in wearing heavy clothing which is totally out of season. I did see a large firearm, but I was actually more surprised he had such clothing for the season; a ski mask (knit cap pulled over the face with eyes and mouth exposed) a hooded sweater, thick jeans, and boots. He approached me with what I thought was a shotgun pointed at me saying "Get down! Get down on the ground!". I immediately got on my knees and then onto my stomach. At that point I didn't know what to believe and somehow thought it was a joke. The guy came over and I felt him fiddle with my hands behind me maybe tying them. He then left down the back of the aisle and I heard other voices shouting the same both the shotgun guys voice and another voice ordering employees to stay down.
About a minute went by and I heard multiple people going by behind me at the end of the aisle, but I couldn't see anything. I realised that my hands didn't feel restrained and when no one was around I looked at them...they weren't tied in any way. I put my hands back behind my back thinking that he must have just wanted me to think they were tied.
Another minute or so went by without me hearing or seeing anything. I was thinking "everything will be fine just as long as they only want money". I was suspicious of the fact that I didn't hear the other employees, but since I heard no gunshots I figured they were just herded to some room in the back.
Then the same shotgun guy who ordered me down was walking around and I could hear him yelling "I think that's all of them lets' go!". Unfortunately he saw me laying there and got me up. He asked me where the back room was and I told him. Amazingly...he asked me to follow him and for some time he walked to the back of the store in the corner and I had me follow behind him. As I walked he held his weapon in one hand and I got a long clear look at it. The barrel was thick and the hole was wide at the end, the size for a shotgun. However I've been to a shooting range twice and both times fired a rifle and something was wrong. The loading mechanism on his weapon was a bolt action as I now know it's called. One of those sliding plates with a metal ball that's suspended in the air from a bridge of metal. I realise that bolt action couldn't load shotgun shells...or if it did indeed use some rifle ammunition it would be way too small for the barrel. The handle looked like real wood, but there was one more thing. The place the barrel, handle, and bolt connected was covered in multiple layers of thick, black tape. The kind that looks like rubber. My guess is that the weapon was fake. I mean you shouldn't have something held together with tape, but then again if it was indeed a fake why the duck tape at all?
After we got to the corner he started calling for someone named "Bob", I assume a made up name. After that we walked back to the center rear of the store and he asked me where the freezers were. I told him and we went through the double doors to the back area where all the merchandise is kept stored and the freezers are as well. There two other guys, one in a halloween mask with a bag held in both hands, and another felon with a pistol came. The shotgun guy stayed behind me and the two new ones stood in front. The one with the bag just stood there while the one with the pistol started rudely giving me orders. He asked if I had a phone and I told him it was upstairs. He asked if I had money. I told him I did and withdrew my wallet. When I removed my money he threatened me "That better not be fake money!". He took it all the while constantly gesturing with the pistol. I got a good look at it. It was quite a bit smaller and very thin. It was also extremely shiny and looked to be made of silver. I'm no gun expert, but I also think I've seen one of the exact same design in a movie, game, etc. After taking my money the three of them lead me to the back of the hall where he opened the freezer and told me to get in.
Thankfully the freezer was occupied by all the other employees. I was actually extremely worried about what had happened to them after I hadn't seen anyone while walking the store with the shotgun guy. The door closed behind me and I looked...everyone was there. No one was hurt save for one stocker who was deaf. Apparently he couldn't hear the "Get down!" order so the shotgun guy clubbed him. He was bleeding somewhat from the head, but otherwise fine. I really didn't say much of anything. and after a minute the alarm went off. I have no idea where the bandits came in at, but they sure must have been stupid to not leave through the same way and not set off the alarm. After a minute one of the stockers went through the freezer door which was surprisingly left unlocked. He came back not much later and we all exited and milled about the store.
I had no idea what to do so I just went back to work while waiting for the cops. I was extremely surprised when they got there in ten minutes since I live in a rural area and it I hear they often take more than twenty minutes to get somewhere. We were all herded to the front while three officers searched the store (one had an automatic rifle) and they came back saying it was clear.
I talked and listened to what the other employees had to say. It seems that some of them had their hands tied with plastic cuffs. Those things made of the same tough plastic you have media productes encased in. Oddly they only cuffed half of us and one of them they cuffed with two sets. Also they had it seemed rounded everyone up after ordering them to get down, then they brought them back to the freezer, took the two managers to open the safe, got the money, put the managers in the freezer then were leaving and found me. I was the only person who had their money taken!
Overall it seems the bandits knew the store and may have worked there previously. The came in just before midnight. Thing is before eleven we have security, but after when they leave the doors are locked since the store is so empty and without security that's the best theft deterrent. However there are a few daytime workers who stay until midnight and have to unlock then lock the doors. The bandits came through the door right as the doors were unlocked for the cash office supervisor to leave. The came at the right time.
Yet they were very unprofessional. They didn't have enough plastic cuffs and did one person twice. The one with the "shotgun" most likely had a fake weapon. Most dumb of all is how they forgot about me until they were leaving. Actually I'm still shocked the shotgun guy let me follow behind him...
For over an hour things were calm. Paramedics showed up and gave the guy with blunt trauma some first aid. Then the officers took statements from each of us. I told him everything. The shotgun guy and the pistol guy were both black since I could see the skin around their eyes and mouth even through the ski masks. The pistol guy was a bit taller and belligerent whereas the shotgun guy was a little shorter and never cussed or even used slang. The one in the halloween mask never spoke and I couldn't tell his skin color though I did see he was much shorter than me. All of them were young though the masked one I just assume since he was so small.
A special police investigator showed up along with the store owners. The owners comforted everyone and the investigator asked some finer questions about what happened. Then we all went home.
In retrospect I'm very glad no one panicked and fought or cried. I doubt anyone would have gotten killed. I was actually thinking they weren't even going to hurt anyone until I went in the freezer and saw the stocker with the bleeding head.
I really feel alright. Actually it kinda bothers me. I realise I was threated at gunpoint, but yet no actual damage was inflicted towards me. I lost about $120 which is three days pay or to put it another way three months of "fun" money as I spend about forty dollars a month towards non-necessary things. I'd like to know why they took my money and no one else's. Probably they didn't get enough satisfaction from the safe which had $3,000 in it.
One last thing. When I was following the shotgun guy I considered resisting. Me and him were alone. He had a fake gun that could essentially be used as a club, but there were things on the shelf that I could have used just as well or better than that to fight with. I did have him from behind, but I doubt I could have incapacitated him before his two accomplices would come back and they'd surely kill me. It's all useless though seeing as I couldn't kill anyone unless I was certain I was going to be killed and that would only be true if I had already been shot and hence already dead.
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
I was working until midnight doing "tag" duty which is the company word for changing the prices you see for an item. There were two groups of employees there one for tags and the stockers who were refilling the shelves. In total about ten of us.
Right before midnight when I was just about to stop I saw a man at the end of the aisle I was working in wearing heavy clothing which is totally out of season. I did see a large firearm, but I was actually more surprised he had such clothing for the season; a ski mask (knit cap pulled over the face with eyes and mouth exposed) a hooded sweater, thick jeans, and boots. He approached me with what I thought was a shotgun pointed at me saying "Get down! Get down on the ground!". I immediately got on my knees and then onto my stomach. At that point I didn't know what to believe and somehow thought it was a joke. The guy came over and I felt him fiddle with my hands behind me maybe tying them. He then left down the back of the aisle and I heard other voices shouting the same both the shotgun guys voice and another voice ordering employees to stay down.
About a minute went by and I heard multiple people going by behind me at the end of the aisle, but I couldn't see anything. I realised that my hands didn't feel restrained and when no one was around I looked at them...they weren't tied in any way. I put my hands back behind my back thinking that he must have just wanted me to think they were tied.
Another minute or so went by without me hearing or seeing anything. I was thinking "everything will be fine just as long as they only want money". I was suspicious of the fact that I didn't hear the other employees, but since I heard no gunshots I figured they were just herded to some room in the back.
Then the same shotgun guy who ordered me down was walking around and I could hear him yelling "I think that's all of them lets' go!". Unfortunately he saw me laying there and got me up. He asked me where the back room was and I told him. Amazingly...he asked me to follow him and for some time he walked to the back of the store in the corner and I had me follow behind him. As I walked he held his weapon in one hand and I got a long clear look at it. The barrel was thick and the hole was wide at the end, the size for a shotgun. However I've been to a shooting range twice and both times fired a rifle and something was wrong. The loading mechanism on his weapon was a bolt action as I now know it's called. One of those sliding plates with a metal ball that's suspended in the air from a bridge of metal. I realise that bolt action couldn't load shotgun shells...or if it did indeed use some rifle ammunition it would be way too small for the barrel. The handle looked like real wood, but there was one more thing. The place the barrel, handle, and bolt connected was covered in multiple layers of thick, black tape. The kind that looks like rubber. My guess is that the weapon was fake. I mean you shouldn't have something held together with tape, but then again if it was indeed a fake why the duck tape at all?
After we got to the corner he started calling for someone named "Bob", I assume a made up name. After that we walked back to the center rear of the store and he asked me where the freezers were. I told him and we went through the double doors to the back area where all the merchandise is kept stored and the freezers are as well. There two other guys, one in a halloween mask with a bag held in both hands, and another felon with a pistol came. The shotgun guy stayed behind me and the two new ones stood in front. The one with the bag just stood there while the one with the pistol started rudely giving me orders. He asked if I had a phone and I told him it was upstairs. He asked if I had money. I told him I did and withdrew my wallet. When I removed my money he threatened me "That better not be fake money!". He took it all the while constantly gesturing with the pistol. I got a good look at it. It was quite a bit smaller and very thin. It was also extremely shiny and looked to be made of silver. I'm no gun expert, but I also think I've seen one of the exact same design in a movie, game, etc. After taking my money the three of them lead me to the back of the hall where he opened the freezer and told me to get in.
Thankfully the freezer was occupied by all the other employees. I was actually extremely worried about what had happened to them after I hadn't seen anyone while walking the store with the shotgun guy. The door closed behind me and I looked...everyone was there. No one was hurt save for one stocker who was deaf. Apparently he couldn't hear the "Get down!" order so the shotgun guy clubbed him. He was bleeding somewhat from the head, but otherwise fine. I really didn't say much of anything. and after a minute the alarm went off. I have no idea where the bandits came in at, but they sure must have been stupid to not leave through the same way and not set off the alarm. After a minute one of the stockers went through the freezer door which was surprisingly left unlocked. He came back not much later and we all exited and milled about the store.
I had no idea what to do so I just went back to work while waiting for the cops. I was extremely surprised when they got there in ten minutes since I live in a rural area and it I hear they often take more than twenty minutes to get somewhere. We were all herded to the front while three officers searched the store (one had an automatic rifle) and they came back saying it was clear.
I talked and listened to what the other employees had to say. It seems that some of them had their hands tied with plastic cuffs. Those things made of the same tough plastic you have media productes encased in. Oddly they only cuffed half of us and one of them they cuffed with two sets. Also they had it seemed rounded everyone up after ordering them to get down, then they brought them back to the freezer, took the two managers to open the safe, got the money, put the managers in the freezer then were leaving and found me. I was the only person who had their money taken!
Overall it seems the bandits knew the store and may have worked there previously. The came in just before midnight. Thing is before eleven we have security, but after when they leave the doors are locked since the store is so empty and without security that's the best theft deterrent. However there are a few daytime workers who stay until midnight and have to unlock then lock the doors. The bandits came through the door right as the doors were unlocked for the cash office supervisor to leave. The came at the right time.
Yet they were very unprofessional. They didn't have enough plastic cuffs and did one person twice. The one with the "shotgun" most likely had a fake weapon. Most dumb of all is how they forgot about me until they were leaving. Actually I'm still shocked the shotgun guy let me follow behind him...
For over an hour things were calm. Paramedics showed up and gave the guy with blunt trauma some first aid. Then the officers took statements from each of us. I told him everything. The shotgun guy and the pistol guy were both black since I could see the skin around their eyes and mouth even through the ski masks. The pistol guy was a bit taller and belligerent whereas the shotgun guy was a little shorter and never cussed or even used slang. The one in the halloween mask never spoke and I couldn't tell his skin color though I did see he was much shorter than me. All of them were young though the masked one I just assume since he was so small.
A special police investigator showed up along with the store owners. The owners comforted everyone and the investigator asked some finer questions about what happened. Then we all went home.
In retrospect I'm very glad no one panicked and fought or cried. I doubt anyone would have gotten killed. I was actually thinking they weren't even going to hurt anyone until I went in the freezer and saw the stocker with the bleeding head.
I really feel alright. Actually it kinda bothers me. I realise I was threated at gunpoint, but yet no actual damage was inflicted towards me. I lost about $120 which is three days pay or to put it another way three months of "fun" money as I spend about forty dollars a month towards non-necessary things. I'd like to know why they took my money and no one else's. Probably they didn't get enough satisfaction from the safe which had $3,000 in it.
One last thing. When I was following the shotgun guy I considered resisting. Me and him were alone. He had a fake gun that could essentially be used as a club, but there were things on the shelf that I could have used just as well or better than that to fight with. I did have him from behind, but I doubt I could have incapacitated him before his two accomplices would come back and they'd surely kill me. It's all useless though seeing as I couldn't kill anyone unless I was certain I was going to be killed and that would only be true if I had already been shot and hence already dead.
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
