Armed Suspects Rob Another Indiana Store
(CBS) -- He was tied up, robbed and thought he was going to die.
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports on an armed robbery at a Northwest Indiana tobacco shop, one of several that have occurred in the past two weeks.
Three armed suspects targeted Tobacco City in Hammond. Ayman Odtalleh was working as a clerk around 11 a.m. when one of the suspects threatened him, he says.
Two other showed up, made their victim lie down on the floor and started looting the place, grabbing their booty and racing to the back door to load up. They took carton after carton of cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, computers, cell phones and cash and the primary surveillance system.
Surveillance video screen grabs show the suspects.
Video recorded from across the street shows the two getaway vehicles, a light colored Chrysler product, perhaps a Charger, and a white van used to haul off the stolen goods.
"I just hope they get caught," Odtalleh says.
The suspects are believed to be the same thieves who robbed an Indianapolis Boulevard smoke shop on July 4. They even made off with the owner's gun.
Hammond police will apparently view the tape Friday, assisted by federal ATF investigators.
Because the loot was likely taken across the state line into Illinois, this is also a possible federal rap.