Armed robber still at large

HIGH SPRINGS – The man who reportedly robbed a High Springs convenience store last week remains at large, High Springs Police Chief William Benck said Wednesday afternoon.

Police say the robbery occurred Thursday, Dec. 29 at about 6 a.m. when a man entered the Sunrise Food Store at 830 NW 1st Avenue in High Springs.  The man allegedly brandished a small handgun and demanded cash from the clerk.  Benck said the clerk was the only person on duty at the store at the time.

Police are looking for the man described as a 250-pound black male standing between 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall and wearing a dark blue or purple sweat suit and flip-flops.

The man escaped with what Benck called a “medium sum” of cash.

Benck said his office is working several leads on the case although he couldn’t say an arrest was imminent.  He said surveillance video of the robbery was not immediately available because of technical differences between the convenience store’s system and the High Springs Police Department’s equipment.

Benck lauded the clerk for taking the correct action by turning over the cash as demanded.

Thursday’s robbery did not appear to be related to any other crimes in the area as Benck said there had not been a pattern of armed robberies recently.

Anyone with information that may lead police to the armed robber is asked to contact the High Springs Police Department at 386-454-1415.