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Two men have robbed three Pinellas stores, shouting at customers and putting a ''Sorry, we're closed'' sign on the door.
By CHRIS TISCH
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 31, 2001
LARGO -- Once they're inside, the sign goes up in the window, the guns come out and the customers hit the floor.
Wallets, purses and jewelry are taken. The register is cleaned out.
The robbers on a tear in Pinellas County have struck three times in the past nine days, twice in St. Petersburg and once in Largo.
They strike in daylight, yell at their victims and aren't afraid of holding up businesses brimming with customers.
In each case, the robbers have taped a sign stating "Sorry, we're closed" on the front door. Then they have placed PVC pipe around the handle to prevent it from being opened.
"In my experience, it is unusual to bring in your own sign," said Diane Martin, a Largo police detective.
Once the sign is up, the robbers whip out guns and yell at customers and employees.
"Fear was definitely there in all the witnesses," Martin said.
Investigators also fear the worst should the robbers happen to strike a business packed with patrons and something goes awry.
"It certainly is a cause for alarm," said Largo police spokesman Mac McMullen. "They're targeting places . . . where there's a lot of patron traffic. That's definitely a concern."
The string began at 4:22 p.m. May 23 at Spec's Music, 2855 66th St. N in St. Petersburg, when one of the robbers ordered customers and employees to the floor and then forced an employee to empty a cash register into a large duffel bag.
The next day, at 4:19 p.m., one of the robbers entered Supercuts in the Largo Mall, 10500 Ulmerton Road. He demanded purses, wallets and jewelry from the eight people in the business, about half of whom were customers. The robber then dumped the cash drawer into a bag, ordered employees and patrons into a bathroom and left. At 7 p.m. Friday, two men entered the Blockbuster Video store at 9300 Fourth St. N. in St. Petersburg and forced about 30 customers and employees to the floor. One snagged wallets, purses and jewelry from customers, while the other emptied the register.
Both men were armed with black semiautomatic handguns wrapped in white plastic that is similar to a grocery bag.
A possible get-away vehicle was seen in that robbery: a late 1970s or early 1980s pickup that is gray or silver with a white topper.
Martin said the closed sign is the type that can be purchased at a store. It is red and black and is metal or plastic.
Both men are white and in their late 20s or early 30s. One is about 6 feet tall and 170 to 180 pounds, while the other is 1 or 2 inches shorter and weighs 140 to 160 pounds. Both wear dark sunglasses and gloves.
Anyone with information about these robberies is asked to call Largo police Detective Diane Martin at 587-6730 or St. Petersburg police Detective Carl Watts at 551-3352.