Press Release: - Thursday, June 17, 2010 12:05 am By Ken Kosky, nwi.com. Posted by Dan Mayfield.
Robber gets away with cash from register, tip jar; police seeking public's help
PORTAGE, IN - A masked man pointed a gun at the clerk at Old Town Liquors and got her to hand over the money from the cash register, Portage police said.
The robbery occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday at the liquor store, 5454 Central Ave.
The clerk told police the robber -- described as 6 feet tall and 180 pounds -- entered the business wearing a black ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt and dark blue jeans.
The robber brandished a black semiautomatic pistol with a stainless steel slide, pointed it at the clerk and demanded money, police said. The clerk took money from a cash register and put it on the counter.
The clerk told police the robber grabbed the money and also took money from a tip jar on the counter.
The robber fled in an unknown direction. A witness told police an older gray truck was parked along Central Avenue, near the business, at the time of the robbery. The truck sped away westbound on Central Avenue.
"It's a possibility (that the truck was the robber's). We don't want to eliminate anything at this point," Portage police Sgt. Keith Hughes said.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact the WeTip Anonymous Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME or 1-800-782-7463. It is also possible to submit an anonymous tip online at www.wetip.com. Informants may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this matter.