‘Sorry bro, corona’
Police warn stores after bandit blames holdup on pandemic
STAMFORD — Police say a man brandishing a gun blamed the coronavirus crisis as he held up a Stamford bodega Wednesday evening.
“Sorry bro, corona,” the man said in Spanish to the clerk at the
Latino Grocery store on Stillwater Avenue, Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said.
Holding a black handgun, he took a handful of money, and stopped to give $20 back before issuing his apology, police said.
“The man then exited the store and was last seen on foot heading north on Alden Street,” said Sgt. Jennifer Lynch.
Police say with more people out of work due to the coronavirus they are concerned that similar robberies could happen more frequently.
Police were called to the store with lights and sirens at 9:26 p.m.
on the report of an armed robbery.
Officers determined that a man wearing a bandanna around his face with a dark hooded sweatshirt pulled up over his head entered the store and ordered two customers to the floor. Then, with the gun in his hand he demanded money from the clerk.
The robber is believed to be about 40 years old, five feet, seven inches tall. He was wearing tan pants.
Lynch said no one was injured during the robbery.
The robbery is the second at a Stamford store in a week. The first, on Saturday, ended tragically Mark Vuono, owner of Marco Jewelers on Sixth Street, was shot and killed.
Police are still searching for the shooter in that incident. Acting Chief Thomas Wuennemann said the investigation into that robbery was heading in a positive direction.
The last store robbery Stamford
had was in November when two men walked into the Springdale Shell Station early in the morning of Nov. 18 and held the station up by gunpoint.
Conklin suggested that store owners and clerks tighten their security.
“We are somewhat concerned and certainly we would tell shopkeepers who are still open to really be prudent and exercise due caution. We are hoping that incidents like this do not increase,” Conklin said.