GREENFIELD — JC’s Market on Conway Street was open for business as usual Monday, the morning after someone swiped money from an open cash drawer and ran.
Apparently, the theft happened in the evening hours of New Year’s Day, around 8 p.m. Sunday night. No one was hurt, and there wasn’t any fear of violence during the incident.
“There was no threat of a gun, no knife, or violence of any kind,” Owner and Manager Bruce Bednarski assured his customers from behind the store’s counter Monday morning. JC’s Market sells beer, wine, snacks and other food items.
Bednarski said the crime “happened in seconds.” Apparently, the alleged thief waited until the store attendant’s back was turned in the middle of a transaction, grabbed money from a recently opened cash drawer and ran out the door.
At the scene of the crime Sunday night, police cruisers from Greenfield, Montague as well as the state police idled in the 259 Conway St. store’s small parking lot, apparently hunting the alleged thief.
About six police officers appeared to be searching for someone or something near the front of the store, which was closed at the time.
Shortly after 8:15 p.m. Sunday, a police K-9 was brought out, and, after a few minutes, seemed to catch a scent. The K-9 and a few officers moved down Conway Street, away from Greenfield’s downtown. Soon after, two police cars followed slowly behind.
At the time, police wouldn’t give details on what had happened, but did confirm that they were investigating what they believed to be a robbery. Calls to the state police were directed to Greenfield Police, which declined comment Sunday, and didn’t have anyone on shift available who could relate what happened Monday.
Over the past few years, others have also stolen from JC’s Market, but didn’t get away with it. Most recently in 2013, police nabbed a man from Bernardston who robbed the store $100 using a BB gun.
“It’s discouraging. You try to be a nice guy and run a good store, and people take advantage of you,” Bednarski said about the recent theft.
The store owner noted that he wasn’t able give any more information because a police investigation is ongoing, but wanted his customers to know that the store is safe and open for business.
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo