Man dressed as pirate robs clerk at knife point

Tom’s Fruits and Gifts at 1812 A1A South was the scene of an armed robbery late Wednesday afternoon according to a report received by the St. Augustine local news desk at Historic City News.

88 year-old Thomas Grohowski and 56 year-old William Grohowski were at work just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when they reported that a white male, about 5’8″, in his early 60’s, with a ponytail and facial hair, wearing a pirate hat, a long sleeve shirt and tan pants entered their store.

The unknown man browsed while waiting for other customers to leave.

When they were alone, the man approached William Grohowski at the cash register and brandished a large stainless steel folding knife. The robber demanded that Grohowski give him all of the money in the till.

Grohowski told police that the suspect fled south toward the Pizza Garden; riding a bicycle that was towing a trailer, displaying a Florida Gator flag.

St. Augustine Beach Police officers Carswell and Kelly assisted Sheriff’s deputies in a search of the area; however, at this time the suspect has not been located.

In addition to nearly $400 in cash stolen, when Grohowski went outside to observe the robber’s escape, he noticed that the rear passenger side tire on his 2007 Jeep and the rear driver side tires on a 2000 Jeep and 1992 Ford belonging to Thomas Grohowski, had all been slashed — apparently with a knife.

All three vandalized vehicles had been parked in front of the business.

The investigation is continuing.

Photo credit: © 2010 Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire