Man Robs Convenience Store on Route 8 12-17-14

Incident #: 50-14-34105   Date: Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 at 7:48PM

Location:  Valero/Shore Stop, 1358 Forrest Avenue, Dover, DE

Narrative:
The Dover Police Department is investigating a convenience store robbery that occurred on Tuesday evening at the Valero/Shore Stop on Route 8/Forrest Avenue at 7:48PM.  A large build black male suspect entered the store wearing a blue ski mask, dark   colored hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, torn blue jeans, and black boots.  The suspect displayed a knife and demanded money from the employee.  The suspect demanded the money be placed in two plastic grocery bags that he brought into the store himself.  The suspect fled eastbound from the store with an undisclosed amount of money and two packs of Newport cigarettes.  The suspect dropped some evergreen tree leaves and a small branch inside the store, indicating the suspect may have traveled through the wooded residential lots just east and south of the business.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7111 or call the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-Tip-3333 or go online at http://www.tipsubmit.com.

In response to the recent string of convenience store robberies, police are encouraging businesses to review the following safety tips to help reduce the chances of becoming a robbery victim:

Cash Control
Strong cash-handling policies along with good signage can greatly reduce rates of robbery. One study found that robbery rates drop by 80% when potential robbers know that there’s $50 or less in the cash register.

Silent Panic/Holdup Alarms and Surveillance Cameras
These types of alarms protect your employees in potentially violent robbery situations. They are not useful in preventing robberies but can help to reduce the impact of a robbery in process. Provide proper training on the usage of silent alarms so that employees know how to safely use them.  Ensure that alarms and surveillance cameras are in good working order.

Remove Signage From Windows
Visibility in and out of a convenience store plays an enormous role on the psychological comfort of the would-be robber. If robbers know they can be seen from the outside then the likelihood of a robbery falls. Keep your windows free and clear of any and all signage.

Have Two Employees on Duty During High-Risk Times
Having more than one employee on duty can reduce the risk of robbery during the most high-risk robbery times. It’s vital that both are well trained on violence reduction though, as sometimes two employees are more likely to fight back against robbers.

Provide Adequate Lighting
Adequate lighting is shown to reduce incidents of robbery. Be sure that faces in your parking lot are easily visible from the street. Further, be sure that you’re not creating a glare that could reduce visibility. Strong, white lighting outside of your convenience store can also make your customers feel safer.

Officer releasing this information:
Cpl. Mark Hoffman
Public Information Officer