Austintown store robbed at gunpoint

STAFF REPORT

AUSTINTOWN — A woman was held at gunpoint inside Check N Go on Raccoon Road after two men entered the business and demanded money.

The victim told police she was working inside the store about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, when the men came in and asked about taking out a loan.

She said the suspects’ demeanor seemed suspicious, so she pressed the silent panic button. The victim told police that was when one of the men walked behind the counter, pulled out a black semiautomatic handgun and pointed it at her.

She was instructed to open the cash drawers and then lie on the floor.

He emptied an unknown amount of cash from the drawers, then told the victim to open a safe located under the cash drawers. She said she complied but told them the lock was on a 10-minute delay.

The man holding the gun then went to the back of the store, dumped out the victim’s purse and pocketed a cell phone, $40 cash and keys.

The man forced the victim into the restroom before leaving the store. She said about one to two minutes after hearing them leave, a township police officer entered the building and identified himself.

The officer said as he was pulling into the parking lot, a witness approached and asked if the officer was looking for someone.

The witness told police he saw two men wearing dark pants and hooded sweat shirts walk from the front of the Check N Go, west toward the back of the building.

A police dog was brought to the scene in an unsuccessful attempt to track the men. The store’s surveillance video was taken as evidence.