Police Looking for Leads

I live in a small resort town that is very quiet most of the year in the “off tourist seasons”. You’ve driven through hundreds just like it sprinkled across the country. There are a few gas stations/markets and a downtown area of about 9 square blocks, inhabited by small shops, largely tourist driven and a sprinkling of professional offices for those nasty divorces or the latest toothache or cold. If you live here for very long you either know or went to school with a family member that represents the whole population. Cozy but a little restrictive for my tastes. But, it’s home and we all can relate to “home” and home towns right?

Well, a local pharmacy was “robbed at gunpoint” by a large, white, clean shaven, male wearing a “ball cap” this past Tuesday. Apparently “at gunpoint” is a legal interpretation that I don’t understand. Friday’s news said he “showed a pistol” which is not “pointing a pistol” to me. Since I have been shown pistols a few times in my youth. It kind of took on the motion of a slight tug on the coat, which expanded the open jacket to reveal a holstered pistol. I consider this a gentleman’s way of letting one know that the party in question is packing “lethal force” – not like a crack addled nutbar waving a revolver around like a High School band twirling their batons. We’ve all seen this guys on TV cop shows. Employees of the store were a little shaken up and upset but were left unharmed after turning over cash to the thief. They certainly must have been, since the local police brought in a sketch artist to make a rendering of their descriptions. It was also found, that the surveillance camera was on the “fritz” so there’s no footage! All of the employees, cash and narcotics in one place and no video? Tisk..tisk…!!

Even the cheap, drive-up gas stations with a single employee inside are on multiple video cams – I watch them on TV and laugh at the crooks that get locked in or trying to break out of the little cubicle by throwing their pilfered cash registers into the doors, in a vain attempt to break free. Anonymous tip lines have been set up – which says to me that the police have no clue who their man is and realize what a tragedy this could have escalated into. We’re happy no one was hurt. Not to put down our local cops – they’re good, but lack of video and a generic description don’t offer many leads. Maybe a phone tip will come in?

Oddly, I was sitting in one of the chairs in back at precisely the same time the previous day (Monday), waiting for a prescription to be filled and scoping out their security system (out of boredom) while waiting and everyone was in such a good mood – just locals making small talk. What a difference a day makes eh? What would I have done if it was one day earlier, I keep wondering? Why, make a citizen’s arrest – on the spot! I would have been sitting two strides from where the robber stood. No mercy, no fear – just take him down hard – when he looked to the register and began his demands, he’d have been down already. Or, maybe I would have done nothing at all, not sure unless you’re there I suppose. What would you do?