A Benton Harbor party store that has fallen victim to armed robberies twice in ten days time has lost a substantial amount of cash at the hands of thieves in a case that is now part of a Michigan State Police Major Case Unit investigation. One of the robberies took place the day after Christmas, and the other occurred as recently as last Thursday morning. Police are seeking help in tracking down the armed robbers involved.
Police have now been dispatched in the early morning hours twice to the JB Party Store at 268 E. Empire Avenue, less than four blocks away from Benton Harbor High School.
Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Michael Clark says that authorities believe that the two robberies are related incidents and are asking for the public’s help in bringing to justice those responsible for the robberies.
Clark says that the first incident happened early on the morning after Christmas, December 26th. At that time several subjects entered the party store and presented a weapon and announced a robbery. They stole a large amount of cash and then exited and feld on foot. The people involved were wearing masks or had their faces covered with clothing.
Again in the early morning hours of Thursday, January 5th, officers were dispatched to the same store, JB Party Store at 268 E. Empire after several subjects entered the store again, presented a weapon in the same manner and announced the hold-up. Once again they were wearing masks or had their faces covered with clothing. In that second hold up, one of the gunmen fired a round into the ceiling before once again taking a substantial amount of cash, after which they fled on foot.
Both incidents are being investigated by both the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State Police Major Case Unit. Forensic evidence has been gathered in both incidents, and authorities ask that anyone with information contact them at 269-927-0293 or by calling Crimestoppers at 1-800-342-STOP (7867).
