A late-night shift at a Canton tobacco shop turned chaotic Monday when a clerk was sprayed in the face with a fire extinguisher and robbed by a group of juveniles. The worker was left shaken but not seriously hurt and told reporters the same group had targeted the store once earlier in the evening. The clerk estimated the oldest suspect at about 14 and the youngest under 10.
Police audio captured screams as officers responded
Baltimore police raced to Prime Tobacco in Canton around 9 p.m., and radio traffic captured the clerk screaming as officers were dispatched, according to FOX45 News. The clerk, who declined to appear on camera, told FOX45 News the kids came into the shop carrying rocks, blasted the extinguisher at her, and grabbed merchandise before running out.
Commissioner Worley flags juvenile crime concerns
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley has repeatedly warned that juvenile offending remains a major challenge and said officers have increased juvenile arrests this year, as reported by WBAL. Worley has urged parents, guardians, and lawmakers to step in early and help curb repeat behavior that he says risks pushing young people into the adult criminal system.
No arrests yet; suspects last seen near Patterson Park
So far, police have announced no arrests in the double robbery. The clerk told FOX45 News the suspects were last seen running toward Patterson Park after the second incident. Detectives have not released further suspect descriptions and are asking anyone with information to contact the department through its tip lines.
Neighbors and small businesses on edge
Residents and nearby business owners say the reported ages of the suspects rattled the neighborhood and fed into ongoing worries about youth-involved thefts. Shop owners note that even when no one is seriously hurt, repeated hits and grab-and-go thefts strain small businesses that depend on late-night sales and quick turnover to stay afloat.
