Suspect Uses Mini Crossbow in Gettysburg Fireworks Stand Robbery

A seasonal retail location was the target of a highly unusual armed robbery this week. According to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), investigators are actively searching for a suspect who utilized a non-traditional weapon to hold up a fireworks stand in Adams County.

The Crossbow Robbery

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, June 23, at approximately 9:30 p.m. State Police reported that an unidentified suspect entered the Keystone Fireworks store located on Emmitsburg Road in Freedom Township, just outside of Gettysburg.

According to the official police report, the suspect immediately bypassed the cash registers and attempted to directly access the store's primary safe. When the suspect realized the safe was locked and could not be independently breached, the situation escalated. The suspect confronted the store manager, brandished a "mini crossbow," and demanded that the manager immediately open the secure safe.

Under threat of the weapon, the manager complied with the demands. Authorities confirmed that the suspect successfully obtained an undisclosed amount of cash from the safe before fleeing the scene in an awaiting vehicle.

Securing Seasonal and High-Cash Retail

Fireworks stands, like many seasonal or pop-up retail businesses, are often heavily targeted by armed robbers because they traditionally conduct a high volume of cash transactions in a very short operational window. To mitigate the risk of armed robberies, managers of these temporary or high-cash locations must prioritize cash management:

• Install Time-Delay Drop Safes: The most effective defense against a "safe-cracking" robbery is to remove the manager's ability to open the safe entirely. Use a time-delay drop safe where cash can be quickly deposited through a slot throughout the day, but the safe itself can only be opened after a pre-programmed delay (e.g., 15 minutes) or requires a secondary code held only by an off-site armored transport service. Clearly post signage indicating that employees cannot open the safe.
• Frequent Cash Skims: Never allow large amounts of cash to accumulate in front-line registers. Managers should conduct regular "skims" every few hours, moving large bills from the registers directly into the drop safe.
• Panic Buttons: Ensure the manager's office and primary checkout counters are equipped with silent, hardwired panic buttons that immediately dispatch local law enforcement without alerting the suspect.