WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Police in Winter Garden responded Tuesday to a report of an armed robbery at a Publix grocery store, officials said.
The robbery at the Stoneybrook West Parkway store was reported at about 7:30 a.m. and caused nearby Whispering Oak Elementary School to be locked down for about 30 minutes, police said.
"We didn't locate the car, but just for the safety of the children we wanted to shut down the school and make sure there was nothing at the school to be worried about," department spokesman Lt. Scott Allen said.
The robber walked into the store, went to the customer service desk and demanded money after laying a knife on the counter, the Winter Garden Police Department said.
The individual was wearing a heavy winter coat, sunglasses and a scarf to cover his face and fled the scene in a black sedan with silver trim, officers said.
"Subject got a couple hundred dollars. The vehicle appeared to be driving around all night, or garage kept, because every other vehicle in the area had dew all over it and witnesses said it was dry to the touch," Allen said.
Police said the crime is rare in that part of Winter Garden.
#RightNow: I'm going through surveillance video of the Publix robbery. Man in black jacket held up clerk with a knife.#WFTV pic.twitter.com/HpnpMKCoEp
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) December 13, 2016
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