BLOOMSBURG — A robber snatched a cash register and a large amount of cash from a downtown business Monday afternoon, according to police.

A black male entered Altheas Imaginarium, 40 E. Main St., around 4 p.m. and reached over the display counter to the register that sits on a lower ledge behind it, says store owner Chad Schlegal.

The man grabbed a set of keys that didn’t belong to the register and tried opening it for several seconds before a female clerk spotted him and pushed a panic button that’s set to automatically dial police.

Robber fled with cash

Although the security system failed to notify police, just the act of pushing the panic button appeared to have scared the robber, Schlegal said. He ripped the register off the counter and tried running for the door, but it was still plugged in, Schlegal said. As the cord pulled taut, the register was yanked out of his hands and dropped to the ground. 

When it did, the register broke and the drawer opened. The male was able to grab a large amount of cash before fleeing the store, police say.

Owners offering reward 

The male, who is approximately 6-feet-tall, thin, and clean-shaven, was last seen running north in the 100 block of Miller Avenue. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and black pants.

Schlegal, who co-owns the store with his wife, Amy, say they’ve had trouble with shoplifters, and were robbed once at their Kutztown store, but haven’t had any serious trouble in the three years they’ve been on Main Street.

He’s contacted the security company to fix issues relating to the panic button, he noted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Thomas Pfeiffer at 570-784-4155, ext. 177. The Schegals are also offering a $400 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest. 

Julye Wemple can be reached at julye.wemple@pressenterprise.net, or at 570-387-1234, ext. 1323.