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Armed robbery at Short Pump Town Center concerns shoppers

Posted at 9:15 AM, Nov 14, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-14 21:37:58-05

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Henrico Police are looking for three men who robbed Kay Jewelers inside Short Pump Town Center mall.

The crime happened Tuesday night around 8:50 p.m., according to Henrico Police spokesman Lt. Linda Toney.

"After several minutes of shopping, two of the men brandished handguns and demanded employees give them jewelry," Lt. Toney wrote in an email. "The employees complied and the men left the store on foot with several pieces of jewelry."

Lee Shelton and his girlfriend are still shaken by the recent robberies near VCU's campus. 

 "We came out here to have a good time and enjoy ourselves, and enjoy our shopping experience.  It's not safe out here as well.  It just makes you extremely uncomfortable.  What do you do?  Where do you go?” said Shelton.

"I think that people will be taking the desperate measures.  It's like people are getting more and more comfortable with doing the wrong thing,” said Ione Saunders.

And as the busy shopping season approaches, combined with a lackluster economy, some shoppers fear conditions may get worse.

"Around the holiday season, the pressure is on you. You really want to provide your kids and do things for your children.  So, I'm pretty sure that people that are out there…are going to really be out there and lurking,” said Shelton.

But not everyone is worried.

"I think about it.  But I'm not overly worried about it.  You can got through life always looking over your shoulder,” said Jim Murphy, “you just have to be reasonably cautious."

Henrico police say in order to keep from becoming a victim, you have to remain vigilant or your surroundings, regardless of when or where you shop.

CBS 6 spoke with several store managers off camera who say they’re planning to beef up their security measures and make sure there are more employees in the store at closing.

Police offered the following descriptions of the suspects:

  • Black Male, 40-50 years old, 5'8''-6', 190-215 pounds, short grey hair, salt and pepper beard, dark complexion, wearing a dark blue shirt, jeans, blue jacket, and a blue baseball hat
  • Black Male, 40-50 years old, 5'7”- 5'10'', 150-170 pounds, short hair, dark complexion, thin build, wearing a black tee shirt, jeans, black jacket, black skull cap, gloves, and armed with a handgun
  • Black Male, 18-23 years old,  5'6”- 5'8'', 145-165 pounds, short hair, beard, light complexion, small build, wearing a black and yellow shirt with a logo, jeans, gloves, black skull cap, and armed with a handgun

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.