Four people stole "a couple thousand dollars" from the Student Bookstore located on University Avenue Saturday afternoon, according to the Charlottesville Police.
Charlottesville Police Sgt. L.A. Durrette said three women and one man robbed the store at approximately 1:17 p.m.
"It appears that one of the parties was able to make their way to the back of the business and into the office space and entered the safe and took some money out of it," Durrette said.
Store owner Jeremy Hunt said three of the suspects distracted all of the employees on the sales floor.
"While three of them were doing this, one of them snuck back to the offices and unlocked two doors and stole some money from the safe," Hunt said.
Those who witnessed the robbery said the group looked like gypsies, Durrette added.
It took three minutes for employees to discover the crime, Hunt said.
"[The larcenists] knew the store well enough to know when the business manager went to lunch," he said.
Hunt said police told him no advances have been made in the investigation.
"Their whereabouts are still under investigation," Durrette said. "These people are professionals. They know not to stick around."
Hunt said the police believe it was a group of people who have hit other college bookstores before.
Hunt said it was fortunate the larceny was not a huge loss to the store.
"Not many people pay in cash anymore," he said. "Most people pay with credit."
Hunt said Saturday's robbery was the first the Student Bookstore has experienced.
"This has never happened," he said. "We weren't expecting this in Charlottesville with the caliber of people that live here."
He added that the store will intensify security by installing a camera system and upgrading locks.
Read More
Spanberger asks U.Va. Board of Visitors to delay appointment of new president
By Cecilia Mould and Ford McCracken | 1 hours agoIn the letter, Spanberger urged the Board to hold off on selecting finalists in the search and not to appoint a president until she has filled five current vacancies.
In a changed Honor system, the Honor Committee struggles to generate engagement
By Bertie Azqueta | 18 hours agoThe Honor Committee’s public meetings have been substantially shorter this semester. This semester the Committee’s meetings have had an average length of 34 minutes compared to 50 minutes in the 2024-25 term and 47 minutes in the 2023-24 term.
Student hot-spots on the Corner raise prices in response to increased operating costs
By Lily Kostro | 19 hours agoAndy McClure, owner of The Virginian and a class of 2001 alumnus, said that the last five years have placed a strain on the restaurant business due to significant expense increases.
