Forever Pets
Bleach bandit makes off with cash, pets
Web Posted: 08/27/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Brian Chasnoff
Express-News Staff Writer
She made off with a Chihuahua, a kitten and an undisclosed amount of cash, but not before flinging a cup full of liquid bleach into the eyes of a pet store employee and his friend.
The bleach-wielding bandit, decked out in full camouflage and black boots, struck again Friday night, police said.
The woman is suspected in two previous North Side robberies, one that took place Thursday and another Aug. 19, in which the robber threw bleach into the faces of those she held up, police said.
This time, she sauntered into the family-owned Forever Pets in the 1300 block of O'Connor and showed interest in purchasing a Chihuahua puppy and a small kitten.
A 17-year-old male employee was filling out paperwork for the purchase of the kitten when the woman emptied a cup full of bleach onto him and a 19-year-old man standing beside him, police said.
"His eyes were pretty much messed up," said Officer Mark Morales of the 17-year-old, who was hit with most of the bleach. "He was just burning with the bleach on," he said.
Both victims were taken to Northeast Baptist Hospital for treatment. Their conditions were unknown Friday night.
After the woman unleashed the bleach, she told the two she had a gun under her shirt and demanded money, police said. With bleach in his eyes, the pet store employee opened the cash register and gave her the money.
Then the woman herded the men to the back of the pet store and locked them in a dog kennel. They later escaped because she did not properly lock the kennel, police said.
About this time, Richard Rodriguez and his two sons entered the pet store and came face-to-face with the woman, who told them the store was closed.
"She had scars all over her legs," said Rodriguez, 34. "She looked about 30 (years old)."
Rodriguez did not question the scenario because the woman had the keys to the store, he said.
Police were unable to locate the woman, Morales said.
Soon after the robbery, paramedics escorted one of those injured from the premises. Wrapped in a blanket, he was visibly shaken and his eyes were red.
About an hour later, an officer brushed the front doors of the pet store for fingerprints.
She said that although robberies are fairly common in this city, the brashness of the woman's assault with a common household product set this one apart.
"They don't usually hurt anybody," the officer said. "Hurting people is the uncommon part."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
bchasnoff@express-news.net
Reply With Quote
