Pittsfield Township police arrest two suspects after CVS Pharmacy robbery
Pittsfield Township police say a note-passing robber made off with cash from a CVS Pharmacy Sunday evening, but didn’t get far.
The robbery occurred in front of several customers at the pharmacy in the 3000 block of Carpenter Road at 8:30 p.m., reports said.
Police say a man passed a note to a cashier that read, “Empty the register.” He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, running by startled customers, a police press release said.
Witnesses told police the man escaped in a dark colored sedan, and officers spotted the vehicle near Center Valley Drive and Carpenter Road, reports said. The suspected robber and an accomplice in the car were arrested, reports said.
Police said the cash from the robbery was recovered.
The suspects - a 21-year-old Royal Oak man and 21-year-old Ypsilanti woman - were jailed pending charges.
Comments
cuttolength
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 11:07 p.m.
He was wearing a large hoodie with the hood up in 90 degree weather. So how would the cashier know if he had a weapon or not. The note said to empty your register and don't make a sound or someones going to get hurt.
msddjohston
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
Hot Dogs! Cops are Great!! Thank you for making us safer. Your friend, Dawn
Ricebrnr
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.
@ Bob I agree every CVS I've ever been to does have a cashier with the pharmacy in the back of the store. You neglect to mention that there is also a bank of registers mere steps from the front doors in every store as well. If this debate were about cigarettes in stores, paint fumes, heavy equipment would you be equally as dismissive of an unsafe work environment? Somehow I doubt it. I also agree that there are uncertainties in life....and unlike many I do in fact face it AND deal with it AND am much safer for it.
bob
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.
@Ricebrnr - your attitude is absolutely amazing! First of all in every CVS I have been in the pharmacy is in the BACK of the store...not by the door. Every business that handles money cannot afford a security guard standing over every cashier. That is completely unreasonable. Or give the employee the ability to defend themselves if necessary? What...give them a gun? 99.99% of the places I shop there is NO problem with handing money to a cashier. And I hate having to do business with a place where I have to shove my money under a bullet proof window. Not because I am hoping for the opportunity to rob the cashier but because it is less personal. There are uncertainties in life....deal with it.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 9:15 a.m.
So yes I fault the employer for putting someone at risk by handling money often near the entrances and exits without giving the appropriate security OR the ability to defend themselves if necessary.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 9:09 a.m.
Why don't you all ask the employer what their policy is for such a victimized employee to defend themselves? Sure give up the money, what if that is not enough? Unfortunate clerks like jodie's husband are told to comply yes. Sometimes violence is perpetrated even when the victim does. freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/900628/posts
bob
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 9 a.m.
@Ricebrnr - exactly what is the policy at this institutions that puts more people like Jodie's husband at risk? Allowing him to handle money? It has been stated that it is CVS's policy to just give up the money...which is what the employee did. You obviously believe the employer has done something wrong since you tell Jodie to redirect her obvious annoyance with her husband's employer or the criminal. Sometimes crap happens. Like good hardworking people (Jodie's husband) come in contact with bad people (the robber) The only person to direct any annoyance with is the robber.
Steve Hendel
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
@Ricebrnr: and what then would you have this probably low-paid cashier do when such a note was presented? Ask the robber if he is threatening violence AND if he actually has a weapon? No? Then what is an appropriate response to such a note?
Ricebrnr
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 6:02 a.m.
I believe many if not all banks have this policy too. So back to my original point, if it only takes a note to get some cash do you think there. Will be more or less of these crimes? Remember criminals are lazy and like easy. Just saying. And my comment dies not in any way place blame on any victims of these crimes but calls into quetuon policies set by these institutions that may in fact put more people like Jodie's husband at risk.
Sarah
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 5:51 a.m.
CVS policy was -and I think still is (reports on a cashier who was murdered for trying to chase down a robber in the Boston area)- if someone threatens you, give it to them. You don't know if they have a gun. Your life isn't replaceable, the company told us when I worked there. I think the cashier did the right thing, including having enough presence of mind to report the car to the police AFTER he was unharmed!!
Morgan
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 10:52 p.m.
my sister works there @ jodie and she said there was No threats and No weapons and she pretty much told me the WHOLE story cus her boss told her
Ricebrnr
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 4:59 p.m.
@Jodie, First my condolences to you husband for having been the victim of a crime. Second perhaps you noticed that I was asking questions. As you noted there may be details missing from the "report." Usually there is a threat of violence with a weapon but nont was mentioned nor any reportedly recovered. While I understand your sensitivity to the issue perhaps your should redirect your obvious annoyance with his employer or the criminal. Feel free to elighten us with more details as even though I asked those questions I didn't anticipate any answers from A2.com
Jodie Bolinger
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 4:36 p.m.
@Ricebrnr - My husband is the cashier that was robbed. Before you post comments, maybe you should get the whole story. How do you know he did not have a weapon and didn't make threats of violence to the employees? There's more to this story than what made it into the article.
RJA
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 4:22 p.m.
Amen for wittness to the crime, and Good Job Pittsfield Officers!
Ricebrnr
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:57 p.m.
No weapons / no threat of violence? All it takes is a note to rob a bank or a pharmacy these days? If it's that easy expect more of this type of crime....