Animal Nature Robbed at Gun Point Tuesday Afternoon
Pittsburgh police are investigating.
A man robbed Animal Nature at gun point Tuesday afternoon at about 4:25 p.m., taking $250 in cash from the register after threatening an employee.
The pet store, located near the corner of Forbes and Braddock avenues, is co-owned by Nina Wolf. This is the second time in two years that the store has been robbed. Pittsburgh police responded to the scene to investigate. No one was injured.
“Police said the area is just getting crushed—there’s a lot going on,” Wolf said.
One African-American male standing at about 5'10” came into the store with short braids that came down slightly over his forehead. After waiting for all of the customers in the store to leave, he went up to the main counter where an employee was working the register.
The man was holding the gun down to the ground near a rack of cards, which would have hidden him from security cameras. He made the employee empty the register and backed out of the store.
Wolf said he took $250 in cash and asked the employee for her purse, but she didn’t have one.
“We think that he and a friend were here on Friday night,” she said. “Our employee said someone came in and asked if we were hiring. Then, she locked the door and they tried to get back in. We think one of those guys came back in today.”
Jodi
7:17 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This makes me absolutely furious.
Ben Schmitt
7:25 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Awful. Catch these jerks!
Morgan Hawkins Drain
8:40 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This is absolutely awful. We live across the street...we stopped in the store just yesterday afternoon! I don't know what is going on in this neighborhood, the incidences are crime are getting worse and worse. It's sad.
Akasha Brandt
10:01 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The people there are so nice. That's a terrible shame. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
Chef Chuck Kerber
11:57 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Weren't they robbed once before?
Stephanie Rex
7:27 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Yes - there is a link in this story to the first incident which I covered about over a year and a half ago.
Khrys Myrddin
1:22 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The robber did not ask the customers to leave. My mom and I were the last customers to walk out before the young man held the place up. I am very saddened by this incident, as well as others that have occurred this week around Park Place.
On August 7th, Park Place will be joining neighborhoods across the city and country in celebrating National Night Out. Incidents like this remind us how important it is to know our neighbors--individuals and business. Well-connected neighborhoods with good communication are bad places for criminals. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to reach out to the people who live around you and say hello. More info in yesterday's Park Place Update: http://www.parkplaceblog.com/listserver/mail.cgi/archive/ppupdate/20120717115345/
For those of you who live near Animal Nature, you might want to sign up for the Park Place Update (http://www.parkplaceblog.com/mailing-list/) or join the Park Place Neighborhood group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParkPlacePgh/).
Stephanie Rex
1:53 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I'll be doing a story about the Aug. 7 event soon and will contact you and Katy! Thank you!
Michele Pinzak
7:01 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
This is TERRIBLE! Perhaps cameras need installed at that intersection!
Rachel Lamory
8:10 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
There are cameras installed at the store. Unfortunately, they were not working properly to record his entrance. Seeing them is apparently not enough of a deterrence.
Chef Chuck Kerber
11:05 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Maybe she should invest in a firearm.