Man grabs bag of money from armored car

RENTON, Wash. — Renton police detectives are investigating how a man walked away from an armored car after grabbing a bag of money.

It happened Thursday outside the Safeway store on Rainier Avenue South.

Investigators tell KIRO 7 that an Axiom Armored Transport vehicle was parked on South 3^rd Street around 11a.m.

Two armed Axiom guards had just entered the Safeway and a third was in the driver’s seat when he “saw a suspect walking away from the rear of the car,” Sgt. Dan Figaro said.  “It was later discovered that cash was missing,” Figaro would not disclose the dollar amount.

An image of the suspect was captured on a Safeway surveillance camera.  Police said he was a black man, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, 30 to 40 years old, wearing a dark jacket, dark jeans, a black and white scarf and mirrored wire-rimmed sunglasses.  He might have been driving a newer dark sedan, possibly a BMW or Mercedes, with shiny rims.

Axiom Armored Transport is operated out of Anchorage, Alaska.  The company’s burglarized vehicle is now in evidence at the Renton Police Department, where investigators will try to determine whether a lock was forced, or whether a door might have been left open or unlocked.  Axiom’s three armed guards have been questioned.

“It’s a little different from what we’re used to seeing,” Figaro said.  “We’re looking to see if policies and procedures were followed.”

KIRO 7 Reporter Amy Clancy called and emailed Axiom seeking comment regarding the status of the guards involved, but  no one replied.

Clancy also called and emailed local Safeway spokesperson Sara Osborne to ask whether Safeway would continue to hire Axiom Armored Transport, despite the burglary.

Osborne did not respond, but late Friday afternoon an Axiom Armored Transport vehicle made a stop at the same Safeway store.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crime or has information about the case is asked to call the Renton Police Department at 425-430-7500 and reference case 14-5125.

KIRO