Man Dressed Like Police Officer Robs Borders Bookstore
By Katie DeLong
Archived Content
GREENDALE - A man dressed like a police officer tried to rob the Borders bookstore in Greendale Monday morning.
It happened right next to Southridge Mall: a busy shopping mall, and inside a Borders store where people go to relax, read and shop.
A manager was held up at gunpoint for money.
Customers were turned away while police investigated at the store Monday afternoon.
Police say a man walked into the store, claiming to be a Greendale police officer. He asked to see the store's deposit bags for an investigation he was working on. A manager took him to a back room and showed him the deposit bags. He then pointed a gun, grabbed the money bags, and ran.
The police department says the fake police outfit could have been a tip-off.
“It definitely would have an insignia on the cap, not just the word ‘police’ written on the front. You can buy those caps anywhere. Same with the other type of equipment. The badge being a star does not match a police officer. That's a sheriff's department normally,” Greendale Police Chief Rob Dams said.
Police are now investigating whether the same man tried to rob a Kmart in Hales Corners on Labor Day. That robber also claimed to be investigating and wore police-like clothing. They're looking at a possible tie to a robbery at Brookfield Square's Old Navy.
“The very similarity in the uniform or the alleged uniform, I should say. Also that he was investigating this shortage in the money bags that were going to armored car companies,” Chief Dams said.
The robber is described as a white man, five foot five to five foot eight inches tall with a medium build. He had a bandage on his face from his temple to his chin, and the area looked swollen. He had short brown hair, and wore sunglasses and the police outfit.
If you have any information, you’re asked to call Greendale police.
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