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Brooke Walker ReportingA store manager sees something suspicious and tries to run for help. But he doesn't get far, and an armed robbery takes place in a grocery store parking lot.
West Valley Police are looking for two suspects in the armed robbery. It happened last night at the Smith's grocery store at 5600 West 4100 South.
Police say it seems the suspects knew the employees' nightly routine. Each night an employee walks from the store to the gas station to collect that day's receipts. When you get in a routine like that, it's easy to just go through the motions. But last night, a very alert store manager noticed that something just wasn't right. He was walking through the lot when a parked car caught his attention.
Sgt. Michael Buchanan, West Valley Police Dept.: "The manager was walking by the car and thought he saw a paint ball gun, but realized it was a shotgun."
The manager started running toward the store, but didn't make it in time. Two men jumped out of the car and tackled him to the ground. They took his money and ran off.
The manager received some minor scrapes, but other than that, is fine. He was understandably shaken. In fact he was so upset that he had a difficult time even talking to police.
Police say this is a lesson learned.
Capt. Tom McLaughlin, West Valley Police Dept.: "If you don't have to carry large sums of money, don't do it. And if you have to carry sums of money, don't do it alone."
Police will be reviewing store security tapes today. At this point they do not have a suspect description but believe the men were driving a grey Volkswagon Passat, Utah license plate 743 VFD.
They traced that license to an address in West Bountiful, only to find the house unoccupied. Anyone who sees this car, should contact West Valley police.
Because of this incident, Smith's has revised their cash pick-up procedures at all Utah locations, in hopes to prevent this from happening again.
