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Man With Knife Cuffs Clearwater Store Manager, Cracks Safe

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 22, 2008

Updated: 07/22/2008 03:39 pm

CLEARWATER - A nicely-dressed man robbed a Blockbuster video store on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard this morning handcuffing the manager before breaking into a safe, police said.

Investigators think the thief approached the manager as he was unlocking the door to the store at 2045 Gulf Blvd. at 9:30 a.m., said Elizabeth Daly-Watts, Clearwater's public safety spokeswoman.

He took the manager inside at knifepoint, locked the door and handcuffed the manager, Daly-Watts said. The culprit took him to a back room, had him sit down there, and then tried to open the safe, periodically checking on the manager, Daly-Watts said.

Investigators say the culprit might have interacted with customers who came to the front door, expecting the store to be open, Daly-Watts said. Anyone who did should call the Clearwater Police Department tip line, (727) 562-4422.

At some point, the culprit took the handcuffs off the manager and put him in a bathroom, Daly-Watts said. After the manager didn't hear anything for about 20 minutes, he left the bathroom and found the man had left. He called authorities at 10:44 a.m., Daly-Watts said.

Authorities did not say how much money was taken.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance video and are expected to release it to the media if it can help identify the thief, Daly-Watts said. He is black and was wearing khaki pants and a blue dress shirt. No height or weight was given.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect time for the store manager's call to authorities.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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