DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - There was danger in store after a cashier was thrown to the ground as thieves made a cash grab.
The cashier that endured the robbery no longer works at the Tony’s Market where the incident occured on Oct. 24, shortly before 6 p.m.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, a man in a white T-shirt walked into the store to purchase a cigar.
“He makes a purchase, according to investigators, a Black and Purple Dutch cigar,” said Claudinne Caro, a spokesperson for BSO, “but he was unhappy with his change, so a verbal altercation ensued between the two.”
Witness Melvin Philpart said he witnessed the entire thing and claimed there is more to the story.
“He came in, he got a cigar, you can see the altercation,” he said. “You can see the guy behind the counter. He was the aggressor, so the dude said, ‘Just give me my money back.’ He through the money in the man’s face. That’s when the dude said, ‘I’ll come back.’ If it’d been me, I would have jumped across the counter right there… It wasn’t a robbery. It was a fine.”
The man left the store, but then returned a few minutes later with five other men and attacking the clerk.
Surveillance footage from that day showed that man jumping over the counter, grabbing the cashier, and placing him in a hold.
“At the same time, others also jump the counter,” said Caro, “and the cashier starts to struggle, as well, with the subject. In one moment you see him go for a black bat to try to defend himself. Within this struggle somebody takes about $8,000 from the store, and then they flee the scene.”
No one inside the market chose to comment. However, Philpart said there are some inconsistencies.
“Where is the $8,000?” he said. “Who said something about $8,000? The same people who said you all can’t interview in that store? Come on, now. Nobody has $8,000. It was a fight. If you look at that video, nobody shows anything. You can’t see a penny taken out of that store.”
Detectives investigating this case are hoping someone recognizes the suspect and the others involved in the robbery.
“The takeaway here is that a disagreement should not escalate to this point,” said Caro. “A disagreement isn’t an excuse to commit a crime.”
It’s important to note that the video 7News has shown was given to us by BSO, and we do not have video from before the altercation.
BSO also said they reported the information that was given to them.
If you have any information on this robbery and assault, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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