The Kangaroo convenience store at 1201 Palm Harbor Parkway in Palm Coast was the target of an armed robbery by two men early this morning. They fled originally on foot with cash and cigarette cartons. It’s not known if they had a vehicle nearby.
According to a sheriff’s release, two suspects entered the convenience store at 1:20 a.m. One of the suspects held the clerk at gunpoint and took an undetermined amount of cash from the register as the other suspect took the cigarettes.
The clerk was not physically injured during the robbery, but at one point was ordered to get on the ground, face down, as the two men continued to rummage through the cash register and shelving.
A 150-second video distinctly shows the progression of the robbery, with one suspect wearing a hat and masking his face with a dark bandana walking the length of the area behind the counter a couple of times, a gun in one hand,a baseball bat on the other, before bringing a knapsack to the the cigarette stacks and rapidly emptying shelves into the bag. Meanwhile, the other suspect brings the store clerk into the frame of the video surveillance (the suspects never look at the camera or attempt to tamper with it), a gun to the clerk’s back, to gain access to the cash register. The clerk punches in a few digits. The cash register opens. The suspect takes out some cash, then orders the clerk to the ground.
In an odd gesture, just before the two suspects flee, the one who was at the register then bends down, placing his left hand on the clerk’s back–usually a reassuring gesture–and speaks a few words to him, then walks out. The clerk stays on the ground, begins to rise, one of the men reappears briefly, and the clerk puts his head back down. It’s not clear how long he stayed in that position after the video footage ends.
The suspects have been described as follows: A white male, unknown age, wearing dark colored clothing, a bandana covering his face and a ball cap. He was armed with a baseball bat and a dark colored semi-automatic handgun. And a black male, unknown age, wearing all dark clothing and a hoodie. He was armed with a dark colored semi-automatic handgun.
If anyone has any information about this robbery or any crime in Flagler County, they are urged to immediately contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 313-4911. Callers can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at (888) 277-8477 (TIPS). Callers are eligible to receive a reward of up to $1,000.
The surveillance video is below.
Oh WOW says
Desperate times if you have to steal cigarettes. What a couple of low lifes. Where are they from Jacksonville??
Born and Raised Here says
Aren’t 2 store clerks suppose to be on duty ? I thought it was a State Law. Glad the clerk is ok.
Jay says
Wheres the rest of the footage? After they leave and the clerk gets up or from any other cameras? Specially the one thats aim at the door? Any cameras from outside?
cj says
Two clerks at a time law and what stare statute would that fall under? It a private company that can make there own rules on paying employees minimum wage and not giving them over 35 hours a week. Capitalism, you life is worth their profits.
DaveT says
I wonder if these 2 lowlifes would have robbed the store if the person (s) on duty were armed,.
Anonymous says
they both touched a lot of stuff bare handed…im sure prints or dna will turn something up-maybe not right away…..but it will
Just saying? says
Just curios if I am the only one that noticed neither of the thieves were wearing gloves? Giving they are obviously criminals, I would assume finger prints would make this a pretty easy case for the detectives.
Also, very glad to see that they were at least humane enough not to harm the clerk.
Nj says
I’m so grateful the clerk wasn’t hurt. They are such a great group of of people.
Flagler Bch. says
To bad the clerk didnt have a gun ! He could have shot both these thugs ! He had plenty of oppurtunity to kill both these guys and do them a much needed favor , and save Us taxpayers money !!!
robjr says
@Oh WOW.
Yep sure must be from Jacksonville because there are no criminals residing in Palm Coast.
footballen says
That is true, the gubment should run everything and divy all the money out equal like.
DaveT says
Palm Coast , turning into little Orlando, or give it 5 years. It appears punks and lowlifes are thinking Flagler County is easy pickens. So maybe some new law enforcement leadership will curb the violence. From what I see there is not enough police presence driving around Palm Coast.
David B says
These convenient stores should have a bullet proof safe closet with a alarm and phone.
The Truth says
@Flagler Bch.
Yes, the clerk making $9.00 should also be responsible for protecting the gas station owners store. It’s baffling to me how some of you in the comments section of these articles think. The answer to everything is not to just arm everyone and have a western shoot out anytime something like this happens. If the owner of the store wants to work the overnight shifts armed than so be it, but to expect an employee to be armed and be responsible for protecting the store in an armed robbery is dense and just plain ridiculous.
Sharon Williams says
The crime in Palm Coast is out of control . We moved our family here 5yrs. ago because it was quiet and lay back. I get places change and grow , but this is to much to fast. Police only make their presence known for traffic stops. Maybe there aren’t enough of them , I don’t know. What I do know is Palm Coast no longer is the safe haven it was , I don’t see it getting any better any time soon. If my children didn’t also relocate here , I would not think twice of leaving . Yes , there is crime everywhere . But Palm Coast is being infiltrated and packed like a sausage . Putting the crimes in our back yards . Wish I had the answers . For me it would be “get outta dodge”
merpy says
http://www.news4jax.com/news/local/law-requires-convenience-store-safety-measures
Looks like some state laws were not followed
dave says
Kill the robbers?! Oh sure that’s just what the situation needs is loss of life. You think anyone in the right mind wants to live with that. No one got hurt let’s be thankful for that. It’s jus some material things taken.
Fredrick says
I still say build a wall and make Jacksonville pay for it.
dave says
If you want to solve the crime problem you must first fix the drug and poverty issues.
Layla says
Palm Coast is easy pickens. We are busy building offramps right into the neighborhoods here and doing nothing to improve our security. You can hold up a business or a resident and be out of town in mere minutes. What did everybody think was going to happen?
Gun crimes should hold a life sentence. And don’t patronize ANY STORE that does not have visible cameras for your protection. This is getting serious and nobody thinks so. It’s all collateral damage to local government.
Sw says
Crime on the loose and off the charts
YankeeExPat says
Have my fellow Citizens complaining about the Crime Rate in Palm Coast just woke up this morning and realized…….. “Hey We live in Florida”? Criminality ranks only second to Humidity in “The Sunshine State”
Jim Bo says
I bet he quit his job😂😂😂😂😂
proud yankee says
Why would the cashier want to get into a shootout? I dont about anyone else but if Im working in a store thats getting robbed the last thing on my mind is protecting the drawer or anything in there.
Looks like the robbers had zero intentions of doing anyone any harm and a gun only would have made things a lot worse.
Some of you “more guns” types would poop in your drawers before you even drew your piece on the bad guy. Dirty Harry makes it look easy, but thats in the movies.
real talk says
if the person was armed it would have been a tragedy. someone would have died potentially over cigarettes and maybe a hundred bucks. and to those that say crime in palm coast is crazy, dont ever move to a big city. no matter how many people and how loud, just because you say something or have an opinion doesn’t make it true. we don’t face real crime regualarly in this area and the old people complain about people stepping on the grass. what can you do.