WESTFIELD – Two thieves who allegedly robbed at gunpoint employees who were closing an East Main Street store late Monday evening missed the store’s receipts when they apparently jumped the gun and struck too soon.
A suspect has been identified, police report, and a warrant has been issued.
City police report that the manager of the Dollar Tree Store at 301B East Main St., called at 11:53 p.m. Monday to report that he and another employee had been robbed.
Officer Francis Gaulin was the first to arrive and was followed within minutes by Officers Christopher Coach, Elijah Wolfe, Ricky Maciorowski and Michael Kane.
Wolfe reports that the manager said that he went out of the store a few minutes before leaving for the night with the day’s receipts and was tackled by one of two Hispanic men dressed in black hooded sweatshirts.
The manager said that one of his assailants said “give me what you got” and rummaged in his pockets, stealing $60.
A female employee leaving the store said that she exited the store and found her manager struggling with the men, one of whom pointed a handgun at her and demanded what she had.
The woman said that she surrendered her cellphone.
The suspects then fled on foot to a waiting vehicle, the victims said, and left the area.
Investigating detectives report that one of the victims has made a credible identification of one of the perpetrators and they are actively seeking the subject of a warrant which was issued Wednesday.
