Police: Armed Woman Hailed Cab To Rob New Jersey Pharmacy
By Steve Beck
GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) –- Police in South Jersey arrested a woman they say hailed a cab to rob a pharmacy.
The incident happened at about 8:45 p.m. at the Rite Aid pharmacy located at 1492 Chews Landing Road in Gloucester Township.
According to investigators, the suspect, identified by police as 28-year-old Lauren J. Bianco of Camden, N.J., hailed a cab and had the cab driver stop at the Rite Aid.
Once inside, police say Bianco asked a store clerk for a pack of cigarettes before she pulled out a handgun and demanded cash from the register.
The clerk complied, and the suspect grabbed approximately $100 in cash from the drawer.
The store's manager was watching the robbery on a surveillance camera from the store's office. As Bianco attempted to leave the store, the manager came out of the office and tackled her by the front door. Police say the suspect pushed the manager and ran out of the store.
The taxi cab driver who was for the suspect saw her and the manager fighting, and refused to let the suspect into the taxi cab by locking the car doors. The cab driver called 911.
Investigators say the suspect was taken back to Camden by another vehicle shortly after the robbery. However, investigators found the suspect's identification, pocketbook and personal belongings inside the taxi.
Detectives say Bianco turned herself in to police at about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Bianco has been charged with Armed Robbery, Possession of Weapon for Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. She is being held at the Camden County Jail on $250,000 cash bail.
Investigators a 35-year-old acquaintance of Bianco was also inside the taxi cab, but they say she was not involved in the robbery.
