Photo: Courtesy Burbank Police — Suspect surveillance photo from video taken inside Antiques on Magnolia Burbank May 22, 2018
Armed robber holds up Magnolia Park Burbank shop. Burbank Police are on the hunt for a brazen robber who held up Antiques on Magnolia, 3412 1/2 West Magnolia Blvd, Tuesday afternoon, May 22, 2018.
Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — Cop walks out of Antiques on Magnolia, 3412 1/2 West Magnolia Blvd, yesterday afternoon. Burbank May 22, 2018
The suspect, wearing what police say was a red and black hoodie with dark pants, walked into the shop and pulled out a gun.
Photo: Courtesy Burbank Police — Surveillance photo of suspect near Antiques on Magnolia, 3412 1/2 Magnolia Blvd. Burbank May 22, 2018
Gun pointed at store clerk
Store clerk, David DeWitt, was behind the counter. DeWitt told Channel 7 News he heard “the gun cock” before the suspect pointed the weapon at him and demanded all the jewelry.
DeWitt reportedly began filling up a bag, but not fast enough. The gunman allegedly threatened DeWitt and aimed the gun at his head. “It was very nerve-racking, but he wasn’t shaking. If he’d have been shaking, I would have been more scared because that’s when accidents happen,” DeWitt told Channel 7.
The shop owner, Sheryl Coughlan, reportedly said the gunman cleaned out the case and got away with some pricey items. “We probably lost at least $30,000 in gold and diamonds.”
School lockdown
The robbery prompted a lockdown at nearby Roosevelt Elementary School on North Cordova Street. Burbank Police did not order a lockdown, but school officials decided to take action: “It was started about 3:45 p.m. and ended about 5:00 p.m. We chose to error on the safe side. The regular school day was over. Parents were allowed to pick up their children from after school care,” according to Peter Knapik, Director of Elementary Education, Burbank Unified School District.
Coughlan told Channel 7 News this was the “… second robbery in her store in less than a month.” Also, she claims other shops have been hit by crime as well: “The shop, Bell Cottage, on the corner has had their glass broken four times in the last four months and they’ve taken the cash registers. My neighbor, 1928, (they) took her cash register and smashed the store in.”
BPD on crime in Magnolia Park
Burbank Police deny there’s been an uptick in crime in this area: “Year to date, there has been only one armed robbery between 2500 W. Magnolia and 4000 W. Magnolia Blvd., which was … at Antiques on Magnolia … there has not been a “rash” of armed robberies in Magnolia Park, at least not that we’re aware of. In fact, over the past several months, crime has been very low in this area, which is great as compared to last year. We have put forth a lot of effort to increase patrols and provide education and resources to business owners not just in Magnolia Park, but citywide,” stated Burbank Police PIO, Derek Green, in an email.
Check out the shop surveillance video of the suspect here or photos on the Burbank PD Facebook Page.
