Crime & Safety

Cops: Gun Wielding Robber Took 'Several Thousands' From IGA Employee

An employee was approached in the parking lot after closing up on Saturday night.

Detectives are probing an armed robbery that they said took place in the parking lot behind the East Hampton IGA on Saturday.

An employee was walking to his car in the lot on Collins Avenue after closing the grocery store when he was approached by a man brandishing a handgun, Detective Lt. Chris Anderson said on Monday.

A black male with a Jamaican accent, short in stature, and believed to be in his 20s, approached him near his vehicle and demanded the money from the employee was carrying. After a brief struggle, "the suspect fled with a money bag" to a car that was parked on Accabonac Road, Anderson said, adding that the proceeds were estimated as "several thousand dollars." Police were contacted at 10:18 p.m.

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The car — described only as a sedan — fled in a southerly direction toward Montauk Highway.

"At this point in time, we are under the belief that there was a second person waiting in the car," Anderson said.

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No eye witnesses have come forward. 

"At this time we believe this is an isolated incident," the detective said. "We're exploring all possibilities regarding motives, means, etc." 

On the eve of Easter Sunday, the store, located at 92 North Main St., closed at 10 p.m., after a busy holiday shopping weekend.

The manager at the East Hampton IGA was not immediately available on Monday. 

If you have any information about the incident, you may contact police at 631-537-7575.


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