Masked Suspect Targets Family Dollar Employees in Armed Robbery

A Sunday morning shift turned into a terrifying ordeal for employees at a local discount retailer. The Winston-Salem Police Department is actively investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a Family Dollar location, and authorities are asking the public to review a detailed description of the suspect.

The Morning Ambush

According to official reports, the armed robbery took place at the Family Dollar located on Waughtown Street. Authorities received the initial emergency call at approximately 8:22 a.m. on Sunday morning, indicating that the robbery likely occurred precisely as employees were arriving to prepare the store for opening.

Investigators confirmed that the suspect utilized an ambush tactic. Rather than entering an open store and risking an encounter with customers, the suspect approached the retail employees while they were still physically outside the building. The individual immediately displayed a handgun to establish control and then forced the employees to facilitate his entry into the business. Once inside, the armed suspect demanded cash from the store's registers or safe. After securing an undisclosed amount of money, the individual fled the immediate area on foot.

Detailed Suspect Description

Police are relying on the suspect's highly specific clothing to generate leads. The suspect is described as a Black male who attempted to conceal his identity using a black ski mask and blue latex gloves. Despite the warm summer weather, he was wearing a heavy black jacket over a white T-shirt. He was also wearing blue shorts and distinctive white sneakers featuring black trim.

Safe Opening Procedures for Retailers

The period immediately before a store officially opens and right after it closes are the two most dangerous times for retail employees, as cash is frequently being moved and no customers are present to act as witnesses. To mitigate these specific risks:

• The "Buddy System": Never allow an employee to open or close a retail location alone. Employees should arrive in separate vehicles and observe the parking lot. One employee should remain in their locked vehicle while the manager unlocks the primary door, enters, and physically verifies the store is secure before signaling the second employee to enter.
• Rear Door Discipline: The ambush in Winston-Salem occurred outside the business. Employees must never linger near exterior doors, especially rear delivery doors or loading docks, before the store is fully open.
• Time-Delay Safes: To deter opening-shift robberies, businesses should utilize time-delay safes and prominently post signage on the front doors stating that employees physically cannot access the bulk of the store's cash until a preset timer expires.