Greensburg police are searching for two people who robbed a Greensburg business at gunpoint Monday afternoon after tying up the owner.
A man and a woman in their early 20s stole about $200, a safe and merchandise from Magic, Glass and Mayhem at 16 W. Second St., according to owner Ryan Smith.
The pair were waiting outside the store when it opened, Smith said.
He assumed they were customers as they followed him inside.
“As soon as I turned the light on, they pulled a gun on me,” he said.
The pair took Smith to the back of the store, where they tied him up with an extension cord, Smith said.
He said the robbers “pistol-whipped” him, striking him on the side of the head with the gun, and seemed surprised when he did not pass out.
They removed the disc from the store's security cameras, according to Greensburg police.
Magic, Glass & Mayhem sells water pipes, smoking accessories and cards for the game “Magic: The Gathering.” It opened about 10 months ago.
The robbers made off with several high-end water pipes and a few packs of cards. The safe they took was practically empty, Smith said.
“I'm more (expletive) about losing the safe than anything,” he said.
Police are examining security footage from nearby stores to see whether they can spot the robbers, according to Chief Walter Lyons.
Smith requires all store customers to register as members. He said the pair who robbed him seemed familiar with the layout of the store. He suspects they are members, although he didn't recognize them.
Magic, Glass and Mayhem has more than 300 members, he said.
He said stores like his are sometimes seen as easy targets.
“Subculture stores usually keep a lot of cash on hand,” he said.
Smith said he is considering whether to keep the store open. He said he fears the robbery could bring bad publicity, and he may close if business slows in the next few weeks.
Jacob Tierney is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.
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