Springfield business owner survives quake, returns to find robbery
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – It's been a rough few weeks for Lonne Morse.
He was one of four missionaries from Thurston Christian Church working in Haiti when the first massive earthquake struck the island. He returned to Oregon less than two weeks ago only to be dealt another blow: this time at his business, Get N Go Grocery & Deli.
Someone robbed his Springfield deli around 8 p.m. Friday night. Surveillance video captured the crime. It shows a man walking in, covering his face and pointing a knife at the cashier.
The clerk opened the register and backed away. The suspect grabbed the money and left with what Morse said was more than $200.
"It hurts," said Morse.
Even worse, he added, is the damage done to the employee.
"This man was very aggressive and so she was pretty shook up," said Morse.
Kay Prine also works at the deli.
"It was a shock," said Prine. "We are all like family here, so what affects one affects us all."
While alarming, Morse said the robbery isn't surprising.
"With the economy the way it is, people are getting desperate and it's just getting worse," said Morse. "They are getting very brave."
This is just the most recent bit of bad news for the business owner. Morse said just this week someone also tried to use a fake $20 bill at his grocery store.
Springfield police are asking for the public's help to find the robbery suspect. He is described as a white man in his 40s with a thin build. He appears to be wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and a dark stocking cap.
