A robber holds a gun at the counter of American Apparel (NOPD)
Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Thursday afternoon in American Apparel, located at 3310 Magazine Street between Louisiana and Toledano streets, according to an incident report from New Orleans police and employees working in the area.
The suspect walked into the store around 2:40pm, and then spent nearly two hours asking the store’s employees their opinions on different articles of clothing, according to a police report by Officer Frank Robertson.
The man walked to the cash register as if he was about to check out, when he produced a semi-automatic pistol and pointed at the clerk and demanded she open the register, according to the report. The employee handed the over $800 in cash, police said.
He also ran ourt of the store with over $200 in merchandise, according to the report.
The robber is described as an African American male, in his mid-20’s, having a medium to muscular build with a trimmed mustache and beard, according to police.
He was last seen wearing tortoise shell colored glasses, a black and gold “saints” cap, a grey pullover cardigan sweater and dark colored pants, police said.
Police outside of American Apparel on Magazine Street after an armed robbery occurred (Della Hasselle, MidCityMessenger.com).
The robber fled on foot, according to a report issued Thursday afternoon by Project NOLA, a nonprofit company that utilizes camera systems to help police catch criminals.
Several police and Uptown security district officers were gathered around the store by 3:30 Thursday, after the incident occurred. A sign on the store said that American Apparel was closed. An employee for American Apparel confirmed that there was a robbery but declined to give any comment.
After the incident, ProjectNOLA urged for more businesses in the area to use crime cameras.
“Please note that we have VERY few crime cameras in the area. Please call us at 298-9117 should you wish to participate with our non-profit crime camera system,” a Project NOLA Facebook post read. “I would much rather be looking at live crime cameras right now, actively attempting to assist inbound NOPD officers, rather than having to sit here and not being able to help.”
Employees in several neighboring businesses said they didn’t see the perpetrator. There were no known injuries, according to local employees and the crime report.
NOPD provided two videos of the suspected robber pulling a gun out at the counter and leaving the store.
Happy Mardi Gras indeed. 🙁