Residents of Reading are looking over their shoulders this week following a duo of heists at two VIP Smoke Shop locations along the same stretch of Reading Road. In reports confirmed by FOX19, the first robbery occurred on Monday night at the 8400 block, followed by another at the 9178 block on Tuesday. Both incidents had assailants armed with a gun, demanding cash at around the same time of night, 10 p.m.
It is currently unclear whether these two armed robberies are connected, but the Reading police are leaving no stone unturned in their investigation. According to Local12, they are analyzing the similarities between the crimes, including the suspect’s modus operandi and the proximity of the two stores. The second robbery not only ended with the suspect escaping with cash, but they also absconded with other store property.
Adding to the unease is a previous robbery that took place a few weeks prior, on January 14, at the same franchise. Authorities reported to WLWT that the description of the suspect in that incident bore a striking resemblance to these recent attacks. Although details of the suspect's appearance remain vague, all the accounts describe a figure clad entirely in black.
No injuries were reported from any of the incidents, a small relief amid a troubling pattern of crime affecting the local businesses. The employee at Monday's robbery complied with the robber's demands, per police reports, no one was harmed during the exchange. The community's safety and the smoker’s haven's security remain at the forefront of the ongoing investigation. Reading police are urging anyone with information about the crimes to step forward and contact them at (513) 733-4122.
