The vanilla & chocolate store robbery… thief chose to strike during fireworks… right as skyrockets were in flight!
Top photo: Barnstable Police Sergeant Ben Baxter at the crime scene while his patrol officers scour the vicinity for suspects…
HYANNIS – Right in the middle of last night’s Hyannis fireworks display all hell broke loose in the downtown Main Street 500 block.
A Barnstable K-9 officer was alerted and suddenly announced over the airwaves he was actively tracking a robbery suspect.
Patrolman Jeff Jackson, along with his K-9 partner Elvis, put out a brief description of the robbery suspect and mentioned he was searching the south side of Main Street between Pine Ave and High School Road.
According to police sources, about five hundred dollars in ten and twenty dollar bills had been stolen from the cash register at the “Vanilla and Chocolate” store located at 503 Main Street.
The suspect was described as a white male with a black beard, dark hair, about 5’7”, and wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt…
Police eventually caught up to someone closely fitting that description behind 519 Main Street, but that suspect didn’t ‘pan out’ after store workers took a good look at him.
The robber took advantage of the busy Main Street crowd to grab the money and run when store workers were distracted with numerous shoppers. Also, the theft took place during the height of the Hyannis firework display when most people on the sidewalks in the Main Street area had their attention directed toward the skyline.
Despite a rapid police response and tight perimeter, the K-9 track was not effective due to heavy foot traffic in the area. Subsequently, the suspect managed to escape the dragnet for the time being…
Officers, however, are working on leads…
No weapons were shown.
The incident remains under investigation by the Barnstable Police Patrol, Street Crimes, and Detective Divisions.
Additional photos:
8/31/2014
Robert Bastille,
P.S. – This morning's HyTown Vignette is brought to you by the Starland Vocal Band... (Sending this out to my dear friend "T, The Hitman..." wherever you are...) [Blast it!]
