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Store employees foil robbery

Workers at a Walgreens on U.S. 19 tackle a man after he jumps over the pharmacy counter. They even nab his partner.

By SHEELA RAMAN
Published January 11, 2007

PALM HARBOR - It was a textbook crime scenario: Man leaps over pharmacy counter, seemingly armed, his face hidden under a jacket, then demands drugs.

Except this time, the would-be victim behind the counter played it smart, Pinellas County sheriff's officials say. He slinked away from the perpetrator.

Then he rallied his coworkers at the Walgreens at 33670 U.S. 19 N.

Led by manager John Patrick, they pinned down the man before he could leave the store, authorities said.

They even managed to nab his partner, officials said, as she waited near a getaway car around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

When sheriff's deputies arrived, they only had to snap handcuffs on the suspected robbers, Stephen M. Cimino and Stephanie Anne Trudgen, both 21 and both of 2588 Orangewood Court. The two are also suspected of committing another robbery Jan. 6 at the same Walgreens, at 33670 U.S. 19 N, authorities said.

But the duo couldn't fool employees the second time around. Employees recognized Cimino from the Jan. 6 robbery, sheriff's officials said.

After booking the pair on a charge of attempted unarmed robbery, detectives said they recovered prescription drugs that had been stolen Jan. 6. Charges for the first robbery are still pending, and the investigation continues. Both were held at the Pinellas County Jail on Wednesday with bail set at $20,000.

Contacted late Wednesday, store employees referred questions to Walgreens corporate representatives, who could not be reached for comment.

Surveillance cameras captured the Wednesday morning incident, but since the footage is considered evidence, it was not released, sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bordner said.

"Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in this type of crime," Bordner said. "Lately, people have been targeting the middleman for prescription drugs."

Sheela Raman can be reached at sraman@sptimes.com or 727 445-4158.

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 22:01:56]