by Mark Bellinger
LEBANON, Tenn. - A hold-up in Wilson County took a scary turn when the thief threatened to blow the place up.
The robbery happened in Lebanon during a rainstorm on Friday the 13th. It was an unlucky day for woman who'd never been robbed. The man entered the Cash Express at 1012 Main Street in Lebanon at 9 a.m.
The robbery was captured by a surveillance camera, which also had a microphone. The man was wearing a poncho, because it was pouring down rain.
"I have a bomb. I need you to put all your money in this bag. I have a bomb sir," said the robber.
Kim Waters was behind the counter sitting at a desk. She said the bomb looked real.
"It was black. It looked real enough for me. He didn't need to tell me anymore. He was convincing enough to me,"said Waters.
She has worked at the Cash Express in Lebanon for four years and had never been robbed.
"Walk up here so I can see you. Push no buttons. No police. Do you understand?" said the robbery suspect.
Waters said the man had something in his had that looked like it was capable of setting it off. She gave him the money and followed his commands. The robber backed out of the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol sent a bomb squad, and police evacuated nearby buildings. Lebanon Police Chief Scott Bowen said they took precautions and cleared the area. They even evacuated some nearby buildings.
"He actually put a device together and had some wires coming out of it. So, he made it look like it was a bomb," said Chief Bowen
After x-raying the device the bomb squad determined it was a hoax, but it did the job. Now, Waters can't help but look over her shoulder.
"It's uneasy. It's hard to sleep. It was hard for me to come back to work. No I didn't think he'd come back the next day, but you never know. You never know what people will do," she said.
She said the experience has made it difficult to sleep, and she has lost her sense of security.
Police were still searching for the suspect. They said he fled the scene in a blue Mazda with damage near the headlight on the passenger side.
Anyone with information about this crime was asked to call Lebanon Police at 615-444-2323.
