CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Some Chester employees and business owners are on edge after a robber used a knife to hold up a convenience store Sunday night.
The suspect walked into the Circle K at 2421 W. Hundred Road with a knife some witnesses said resembled a steak knife. The incident was so traumatic that the clerk ended up quitting her job.
"This kind of thing doesn't happen in Chester. It is surprising,” said Anil Patel, who owns the nearby Suburban Hotel.
Patel spent Monday morning making sure all the employees at his hotel were aware of what happened just a few doors down at the Circle K in Chester.
Chesterfield County Police said the call came in at 11:32 p.m. after police said the suspect walked in, approached the clerk, pulled out a knife and demanded cash. After the money was handed over, the suspect took off running -- possibly north parallel to Jefferson Davis Highway.
No one was injured.
The suspect is described as a black male, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin or slender build. He was last seen wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, and was holding a camouflage shirt over his face.
The robbery is raising concerns for nearby businesses.
“A lot of concern for it and believe me I'm concerned about all my neighbors here, in the area,” Auto World’s Lyndon Harrison said.
For those businesses that stay open all night, a robbery of any kind with any weapon causes alarm.
"It is scary, it's nerve-racking,” Patel, said. “But we have our own security cameras and what no, so that gives us a little bit of safety. And then also we have a ways to lock our doors and that also helps us in a situation like this."
Employees said they would be even more vigilant after what happened.
"I do have the 11 to 7 a.m. guy walk me out, every night, when I leave,” said Rosa Trejo, a Suburban Hotel worker.
If you have information that could help detectives, call the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.
