By Staff
Man with gun flees after getting money
By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
A man walked into Pamlico Insurance at the intersection of Fifth and Washington streets Tuesday, displayed a gun, robbed the business and escaped on foot, according to Washington police Lt. William Chrismon.
Chrismon said the robber, described as black and wearing a camouflage jacket with a hood, entered the business about 2:30 p.m.
Ashley Woolard, owner of Pamlico Insurance, said his business hasn’t been robbed before. He described the amount of money stolen as “very small.”
The robber dropped some, but not much, of the stolen money as he made for the door, Chrismon said.
Police searched for the robber, going so far as to use dogs to try to track him, but didn’t find him, he said.
Chrismon said insurance offices aren’t common robbery targets, adding that all businesses should be wary.
Chrismon said business owners should minimize the amount of cash on hand, use safes, have an alarm system and be conscious of who is coming into and going out of their businesses.
Chrismon added that the potential for crime is rising.
Chrismon said the department is following leads, and he encouraged anyone with information about the crime to call either Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County at 974-6400 or the Washington Police Department at 946-1444. He emphasized that Crime Stoppers is interested in information, not the names of callers.
Chrismon said, “That’s what has solved a lot of things for us here recently, is people being mindful.”
He also said residents shouldn’t be shy about calling in to report suspicious behavior that turns out to be innocent behavior.