Man robs Bentleyville business after failed hold-up attempts
Robert William Petrick
The owner of Jets Food Center in Bentleyville was robbed by a man with a toy gun Tuesday morning, shortly after the man unsuccessfully attempted to hold up a pharmacy several blocks away.
A man attempted to rob The Medicine Shoppe on Main Street in Bentleyville, but the owners would not let him in the building. He then ran down the street and allegedly held up Jets Food Center.
BENTLEYVILLE – A Somerset Township man is accused of using a toy gun to rob a Bentleyville grocery store Tuesday morning shortly after attempting to rob a nearby pharmacy, state police said.
Robert William Petrick Jr., 22, of 159 Almond Road, was arraigned late Tuesday on charges he robbed one person at Jets Food Center, 506 Main St., and tried robbing The Medicine Shoppe two blocks away, state police said.
The pharmacy owner, John Crumrine, said the series of events began shortly before 9 a.m. Just before the pharmacy was scheduled to open, Crumrine said his wife, Susan, noticed a man wearing a mask across his face and holding what appeared to be a black handgun was standing outside the store’s rear glass door. The man demanded she “open the door,” court records indicate, but Susan Crumrine refused.
Susan Crumrine then told the man, “Get out of here, Bobby,” before she ran away from the door to the front of the store, police said. John Crumrine said he grabbed his gun and “locked down” the store, at which time the suspect ran nearly two blocks to the grocery store.
Police said they found Petrick by following his footprints in the snow into nearby woods after he allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of money from Robert Orsatti, the grocery store owner.
Susan Crumrine told state police Petrick often goes to the pharmacy and she immediately recognized him when he came to the door, despite wearing a mask.
District Judge Josh Kanalis arraigned Petrick on multiple charges of robbery, simple assault and theft. Petrick was taken to the Washington County jail on $750,000 bond.
Staff writer Mike Jones contributed to this story