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Pharmacy, Retail Store, Sub Shop Hit By Robberies

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By LISA A. DAVIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

Updated: 12/14/2007 09:56 pm

Robbers were as busy as elves - mean ones - on Thursday from afternoon to night in Pasco County, hitting a pharmacy, a retail store and a sub shop.

The holdups do not appear to be related, said Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Doug Tobin.

The first bandit hit the CVS at 3511 U.S. 19 in Holiday just after 1 p.m. Thursday.

A man thought to be 35 to 40 years old with brown, straight hair, missing teeth and wearing sunglasses, a plaid shirt and jean shorts handed the pharmacist a note demanding narcotics, a sheriff's office report states.

The robber indicated he had a weapon and threatened to hurt the pharmacist if she didn't give him the drugs.

Once he had a bottle in hand, the robber, who is described as about 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, calmly walked out of the store.

Six hours later, a man strolled into the Bealls Outlet at 12103 U.S. 19, Bayonet Point, went to the women's department at the back of the store and made a purchase.

While the clerk was giving him his change, the robber lifted his shirt to show a gun, then demanded the employee put the money from the register in a small plastic bag, according to a sheriff's office report.

The man left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.

"We just got robbed," the clerk yelled after he left; the doors were locked and deputies called.

A witness saw someone run away from the outlet near Publix and head east toward U.S. 19, but he wasn't found by a police dog or deputies on the ground or in the air.

The robber is described as 20 to 30 years old, 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-2 and between 180 and 220 pounds. He wore a baseball cap, blue shirt, blue jeans and sneakers.

About a half hour after that, about 7:45 p.m., a man masked by a blue bandana raised a shotgun at a Subway employee at 24726 State Road 54 in Carpenter's Run Plaza in the Land O' Lakes area.

The robber demanded money, then reached over the counter and took it, according to a report. Then he dipped into the tip jar.

The man took off running with the undisclosed amount of cash.

The sandwich shop employee didn't call authorities, according to the report. Instead, he left a phone message for his manager and kept working. He later told deputies he didn't know what to do after the robbery.

A video surveillance camera captured the crime. The robber reportedly has hazel eyes and a fair complexion; is about 6-foot-1 and 160 to 175 pounds. He wore latex gloves, an orange hooded jacket and blue jeans.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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