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FALL RIVER'S XXXTRA VIDEO ROBBED AT GUNPOINT
By: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer - 03-23-10 - 12:00 a.m. PDT
XXXTRA Video of Fall Rivers, MA, was a target of gunman last Thursday March 18, 2010.The XXXTRA Video store was robbed of cash at gunpoint by two masked men. Investigators told JRL.
This was the first time that XXXTRA Video had been robbed in their 15 years of business, said Paul Balasch, owner of XXXTRA Video at the corner of Pleasant Street.
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Balasch also stated that the robbers stole about $400 in cash.“We wanted to make everybody aware of what’s going on,” Balasch said. Luckily no employees or customers were harmed during the robbery.
The armed robbery adds to about 50 others that have occurred since December of 09', acting Police Chief Cathleen Moniz told the City Council this week during an extended dialogue over how to combat the spike in crime and reduced police staffing.
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Half of that total were in December, and the number had dropped dramatically this month, catching authorities off guard. Police are offering a cash reward leading to an arrest for this latest armed crime, police spokesman Paul Gauvin stated to news outlets.
Balasch recapped the incident..He stated that he had left XXXTRA Video for the day to his brother, Michael Ponte, age 54, who stated one of the men carried a rifle that looked like a .22-caliber, while standing watch at the door.
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Ponte went on to state that they were in and out of the store “within two minutes.” “One guy threw me a bag and told me to empty the cash register, and the other guy held the rifle on me,” he said.
They entered right after a customer had just exited the store at the 203 Flint Street shop about 6:35 p.m, stated investigators. Both men were described as thin, white or light skinned, in their early 20s, wearing gloves and with black masks pulled up over their noses, Gauvin said.
The one carrying what looked like a small-caliber rifle with a wooden stock handle was about 5-foot-10 and 160 to 170 pounds, wearing a dark New York Yankees cap with white lettering and a dark hooded sweatshirt, Gauvin said.
The other man was described as an inch or two shorter and about 160 pounds, wearing a dark jacket with a white design.Officer Alan Beausoleil stated that reports on a silver sport utility vehicle was seen headed away at a high rate of speed. The incident is being investigated by the Major Crimes Division.
Balasch said he closes his store the six days a week its open at 7 p.m. “just so I can avoid this kind of thing.” He said they have video cameras showing the robbery. “But they had masks and gloves on. It (the cameras) doesn't’t deter these guys,” stated Balasch.
Hopefully these criminals will be brought to justice soon.No one should have to worry about going to work and wondering if customers who are visiting their locations are planning on robbing them. Especially at gun point.
Again any information leading to the arrest of these criminals, please contact Detective Richard Saraiva or call the TIPS hot line at (508) 672-8477.
