BEAVERTON, Ore. - Beaverton police are looking for three suspects in a clothing store robbery on Southwest Allen Boulevard, a busy street populated by Hispanic-owned businesses. The owners and one of their customers were held hostage during the robbery.
"I was afraid maybe they would shoot my wife or the other guy, the other customer," said co-owner Sigi (pronounced see-he) Roman with his wife Maria. Both at Latino Americans.
The Romans said the three Hispanic suspects, all men, were only in the store about 15 minutes. But while trying on pants the men were really waiting for other customers to leave before robbing them take-over style, the Romans said.
The men came into their Beaverton store, Firme Clothing, just before 9 p.m. Saturday night and reportedly stole more than $35,000 worth of merchandise and cash waiting to be wired to families of the store's customers.
"He was carrying a gun," said Roman, "and he hit me right here and he told me to stop, to stay calm."
Within seconds Roman said the men overpowered everyone in the store by beating, kicking and even throwing them down. All while they screamed for intruders to stop.
"Just leave us alone," Roman recounts saying. "Take whatever you want."
Roman says he, his wife and a remaining customer in the store were all forced into a back area of the store. There they were forced down onto the ground and had duct tape wrapped around their hands, their feet and their mouths.
"I was afraid maybe they would shoot my wife or the other guy, the other customer," Roman said. "Other than that I'm glad they didn't use the weapon to do anything else."
Police are looking for a large white sedan, possibly a Lincoln Town Car, believed to be the getaway car.
Roman said they are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to arrest. With this robbery as well as one from a few months ago, they said they've lost more than $70,000 in cash and merchandise to thieves. Now cases normally full of jewelry are empty.
With scratches on his chest, and his family still shaken from the ordeal, Roman said the worst part of all is that this attack came from the very community his store is there to serve and help.
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