FOX 10 Phoenix reported that police were still seeking information more than a year after a man took merchandise from an Ahwatukee store and told employees he had a gun, though no weapon was shown. The case was being investigated as a felony robbery.
The incident happened after 8 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2025, near 47th Street and Chandler Boulevard, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Surveillance video reportedly shows the suspect taking items from shelves before employees confronted him. He told them he had a gun, and they let him leave.
The report describes the case as a felony robbery, but the legal definition does not by itself establish how the facts in this case meet that classification. Arizona’s robbery statute covers taking property from a person’s immediate presence and against their will while using or threatening force to compel surrender or prevent resistance, according to the Arizona Legislature.
What Phoenix’s Crime Data Can Show
The City of Phoenix Open Data crime dataset covers incidents from Nov. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2025, and includes robberies based on the primary offense listed for each incident, according to City of Phoenix Open Data. The verified dataset information provides no Ahwatukee-specific annual counts, so it does not establish a local trend or support year-to-year comparisons on its own.
What the Suspect Looked Like
Authorities describe the suspect as a Black man approximately 20 to 30 years old, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 250 pounds. Photos from the scene, per the same account, show him wearing a long-sleeved shirt and glasses with his face covered, making a clear identification difficult so far.
Authorities are now asking for the public's help to solve the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 480-WITNESS at 480-948-6377, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish-language tips. Silent Witness is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps resolve the case.
Police Urge Employees Not To Intervene
Law enforcement officers advise business owners and employees not to take action during incidents like this one, the station's report notes. Instead, officers recommend letting a suspect leave, acting as a witness, and calling police afterward to file a report rather than risking a confrontation over merchandise.
A 2016 Ahwatukee.com report describes a separate police search near Chandler Boulevard and 44th Street after two men allegedly threatened a person with a gun after stealing from a store.
The identity of the suspect, whether anyone has been arrested, and the current status of the investigation remain unknown. Police have not released the name of the store involved.
