Alaska News

Anchorage man charged with armed robbery in attempt to steal children's toys

On Tuesday, the day before Christmas, an Anchorage man trying to steal toys was arrested after he allegedly brandished a BB gun at store employees.

Mandallo Shearrod, 25, was charged Tuesday with third degree theft, criminal trespassing, third degree assault and robbery.

Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Anchorage Police said they received a call from the Carrs grocery store on Gambell Road informing them that a man was threatening employees with a gun. According to police, employees noticed Shearrod trying to load merchandise into a bag he had brought in. When they offered him a cart, Shearrod reportedly pulled the weapon out and began making verbal threats at the clerk. Another clerk recognized Shearrod as trespassing when he went to leave the store. When the clerk confronted him, Shearrod then allegedly pointed the weapon at them before exiting the store.

Officers located Shearrod within minutes and apprehended him without incident, where he dropped the weapon, which officers determined was a BB gun.

APD Spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said it appeared that Shearrod had been stealing merchandise intended for children.

Last month, police noted that thefts in Anchorage through October of 2013 were up 40 percent from last year. Castro said shoplifting is included in that. She said in October 2012, 165 shoplifters incidents were reported. In October of this year there were 228 cases.

Castro said it's unclear what's behind the increase. She noted the upward trend applies to every month of this year through October, though she did not have data available for the last few months of 2013.

Suzanna Caldwell

Suzanna Caldwell is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in 2017.

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