Cops: Thieves Robbed Gas Station And Shot Clerk, Then Stuck Around To Sell Gas

(CBS Philadelphia)

It’s one thing when criminals are bold enough to return to the scene of the crime, but what if they decide to stick around and do a bit of light work afterward? It’s certainly puzzling police as to why three suspects robbed a gas station, shooting and injuring a clerk, and then stayed put for a few hours serving customers and selling discounted gas.

According to police in Philadelphia, the three suspects entered a Hess gas station at around 1:30 in the morning, with one of the men wearing a Hess shirt. That led the 18-year-old clerk working at the time to think maybe they were delivery men, his father tells CBS Philadelphia.

“He said the first guy came in, he [saw] the shirt and he thought it was one of the deliveries. The second guy came in with a gun to his head,” he said.”Next thing you know, he tried to hit him and the gun went off.”

Police say the bullet grazed the victim’s head and he was treated and released after his ordeal, where he was apparently kept out of sight and told to stay quiet in the bathroom for hours while the suspects went about peddling their ill-gotten wares.

“In my career, that’s the first time I’ve seen or heard something like this occur,” a police lieutenant said of the odd nature of the crime. “Obviously they probably didn’t feel like they got enough money, so they’re going to sit there, take control of the business, offer gas at a discounted price and try to get additional money which is just bizarre.”

Cops are on the lookout for the three men, who they believe are also behind at least two other recent gas station robberies in recent days. Both times, one suspect had a Hess shirt on. There were no surveillance cameras in the station, which the father says is upsetting.

The company issued a statement saying:

“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement as well as conducting our own internal investigation. Safety for our guests and our employees is very important to us. However, for security reasons, the company’s safety measures cannot be discussed publicly.”

Police now want any customers who happened to be at the station between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m that night/morning to come forward with any information about the temporary workers.

EXCLUSIVE: Suspects Serve Customers After Gas Station Robbery In Southwest Philadelphia [CBS Philadelphia]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist