Video store holdup nets $7K

OLD BRIDGE — A man armed with a handgun walked into the Blockbuster Video store at the Gateway Shopping Center on Route 9 and left with more than $7,000 in cash, according to police.

At 9 a.m. on Nov. 25, a Blockbuster assistant manager and his roommate entered the video store, counted deposit money and placed the cash in a bank deposit bag, according to police reports. As the men were leaving the store to head to the bank, a male wearing a green sweatshirt and black ski mask allegedly confronted the men and said, "Get back in the store and give me the money. I’m not kidding." The suspect then pulled out a silver handgun, according to police.

After the young men handed over the bag containing $7,389.42 in cash to the gunman, he ordered the two men to get out of the store, police said.

The two men proceeded to their car and used a cell phone to call police.

Once the suspect realized that the police were being called, he began to run towards the Marshalls department store, and escaped by running to the rear of the shopping center, according to police reports.

According to witnesses, the suspect is described as a black male between the ages of 18 and 21, about 5 feet 5 inches in height and weighing approximately 120 pounds. The suspect was also described as wearing a dark coat.

— Natalie M. Vena