PITTSBURGH — There was another armed robbery in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, even after police took a suspect accused in at least two separate armed robberies into custody.
The latest crime happened around 8 p.m. Sunday at City Smoke Shop on Forbes Avenue, just off of Pitt’s campus. Police say Paul Miller, 57, walked into the tobacco store to rob it. Court paperwork says the clerk recognized Miller from previous robberies and told him to get lost. That’s when police say Miller pulled out a knife and started screaming obscenities while stealing.
Miller was able to run and stay under the radar for about 40 minutes before our cameras showed police handcuffing Miller and walking him out of the Dunkin Donuts about a block away.
People who live, work or go to school in Oakland had very different reactions to the most recent crime in their neighborhood.
“I think regardless of the amount of police that are present in the community, I think crime will still occur,” Pitt student, Leo Kates said. “I don’t think it’s due to a lack of police. I think crime is always going to happen.”
Dr. Ecem Saritas, who lives and does research in Oakland says she believes the amount of crime has increased lately.
“It is actually very scary,” Saritas said. “Sometimes I wish there were more police officers around there - it would make me feel more safe.”
This comes days after Pittsburgh Police arrested Nathaniel Weatherspoon, 32, for two of the recent armed robberies, including holding up Layne’s Chicken Fingers about a block away from City Smoke Shope with an AK-47 type rifle. Police say Weatherspoon also robbed DTLR, a clothing and shoe store in East Liberty on the same day. His weapon turned out to be a BB gun.
Police say they do not believe Miller is connected to any of the other, previous armed robberies in the area.
He and Nathaniel Weatherspoon are both in the Allegheny County Jail, charged for their separate crimes.
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