Thursday, April 14, 2011

Armed Robber Fled Without Cash From Hamdan Bros. Foodmarket On Chavez Drive In Milwaukee

Armed robbery suspect walks into the foodmart.

Ragheb Hamdan

Photos by HNG

Foodmart owner ignored armed robber demands to hand over money because he knew the suspect.

By H. Nelson Goodson
April 14, 2011

Milwaukee - On Thursday, a black male suspect was arrested shortly after going into the Hamdan Bros. Foodmart, 1230 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive at 12:27 p.m. and showed a handgun to rob the place, but left empty handed. Ragheb Hamdan, the foodmart owner said, the suspect first walked in with three other men and then left. The suspect came back and walked around the store asked for a box of cigarettes and left without purchasing anything.
Minutes later, he came back and ordered Hamdan to hand over the cash while exhibiting a handgun from his waist. Hamdan ignored his demands and told him, "I know you and I'm not going to give you anything."
The suspect tried to open the cash register, but failed. Hamdan then pick up the phone and started dialing 911 and told the suspect police were on their way to the store. The suspect immediately turned to the exit and walked out securing the handgun in his waist.
Police arrived in several minutes brandishing shotguns and Hamdan was able to tell police officers where the suspect actually lived. Within minutes, the suspect was arrested by police at the 1200 block of S. 17th St., which is just one block West of where the foodmart is located. Several other suspects were also taken into custody for questioning.
Hamdan says, the suspect comes into the store almost everyday and buys a cigar and chips. Even family members of the suspect come to buy items at the store in a regular basis.
The armed suspect was captured by surveillance cameras in the foodmart. Police took a video copy of the armed robber attempting to rob Hamdan.
Hamdan has operated the foodmart for 28 years and had been robbed four times including Thursday. "I told the suspect, uncover your face because I already know who your are. The suspect was wearing gloves," Hamdan said. The suspect must have not cared about robbing the foodmart, even when cameras are placed inside and outside the building, according to Hamdan. Hamdan feels very lucky that he wasn't shot by the suspect for refusing to hand over the cash. The surveillance cameras and the recorded video helped police identify the suspect very quickly.
Hamdan who suffered a knee injury while falling from a ladder several months ago while trying to find a leak in the roof, still uses crutches to move around. He is currently selling the store and is retiring from operating the foodmart.
On Wednesday, several aldermen from the South side announced that more surveillance cameras will be installed along S. Chavez Drive business district, between W. Greenfield Ave. and W. National Ave.

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