Craft store robbed twice within a week
Published Nov. 28, 2006
Columbia police are investigating two robberies that occurred at a Michaels crafts store within a week. Columbia police have not tied the two robberies to the same person.
The first robbery of the store occurred Nov. 14 when a man entered the store and approached a cashier station near an exit. According to a Columbia police news release, the suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money from the register. The cashier gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money, and the suspect then fled the business on foot.
In the second robbery, on Nov. 21, an employee confronted the suspect when he was found behind a cash register.
The suspect claimed to possess a weapon, ordered the cashier to open the register and then removed an undisclosed amount of money, according to the release.
Both robberies occurred between 9 and 10 p.m. The suspect was described in both releases as a white male in his mid-50s, with a medium build and between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall. The man has blue eyes and a black and gray goatee and sideburns.
The suspect was described as wearing an MU baseball cap during the second robbery. Police are still working on a composite sketch of the suspect. Columbia police officers were not available for comment on the robbery.
The Michaels store is located at 2001 W. Ash St. The store manager at Michaels said she was unable to comment on the robberies.