Nurul Anwar was minding his own business Wednesday evening, getting ready to close up his smoke shop and convenience store across from City Hall, when events took a turn for the dramatic — and frightening.
Just before 6 p.m., a man with a mask covering the bottom half of his face entered the store — Ansonia Smoke and Convenience, at 262 Main St. — and brandished a gun, Anwar said Thursday.
“Don’t move,” the man told Anwar.
The man then walked around the store’s counter to where Anwar stood behind the register.
Anwar said he made only one request of the robber.
“I said ‘Take it, whatever you want. Whatever you want, take it, just don’t hurt me,’” Anwar said.
“He said ‘OK, you’re a hard worker, I’m not going to harm you,’” the store owner recalled.
The man took about $500 and fled down Water Street. Anwar called 911.
Anwar said Thursday the experience shook him up, but he was just glad not to be hurt.
“That’s the main thing,” he said.
In a prepared statement, Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota said the suspect was described as being about 6 feet tall and “possibly white or Hispanic.”
“The case is still under investigation and a possible suspect may have been identified in the case,” Cota said.
Any information can be forwarded to the police department’s detective bureau at 203 – 736-2140.
