We've had five stickups in the CVS and three just outside in the past couple of years.  The further stickup on Oct. 27, 2001, following as it did the mugging of Sept. 12, caused a lot of comment:

---

The Robbery

From: <VLsowers@aol.com>
Subject: Our thoughts on CVS robbery
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2001 9:53 PM

Hi John:
Actually, Tom and I was just driving by when we saw all the police cars. Four answered the call. The last police officer was finishing up the scene and we just asked him what happened.

Around 1:30 pm. Saturday (or so I'm guessing as we were there around 2), a black male, wearing a green jacket and sunglasses displayed a weapon and reached across the counter and grabbed cash from the register. The man then fled on foot. He had a thin moustache.

The police officer also said the crime was quite brazen at such a busy time of the afternoon, and noted it would have been more expected later toward evening. He also was concerned about the use of the weapon.

In our subjective opinion, the police officer seemed thoroughly disgusted with the situation and said something to the effect "no real help from them"--which Tom and I interpreted as meaning that CVS either was doing little to discourage robberies or was not all that concerned when they occurred. [Again...this is strictly our take on the situation. I don't know that we are interpreting the officer's comments correctly, This was just our observation.]

Tom and I think that we as a civic association need to put more pressure on CVS to hire a full-time security guard and move the register to a different location--further away from front doors. Also, CVS should take down those window displays so the inside of the store is in clear view of the street. Those black posterboards hide everything. Compare CVS to the open view of the cleaners and you'll see what we mean.We also could resort to calling the press and putting the spotlight on CVS's hold-up record and seemingly lack of response to an active and supportive neighborhood.Or we could picket the place one Saturday and set-up a neighborhood petition table right outside their door that demands a security guard and a number of other safety measures.

I think it's time to put the pressure on them because that store was full of folks at 2 pm on Saturday. What if one of our neighbors or a store employee was shot? The odds seem to be growing all the time. And that makes me really cautious about shopping that strip of stores.

Back to the Top

From: "rickles" <rickles@attbi.com>
Subject: RE: Our thoughts on CVS robbery
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2001 11:14 PM

John, I think this goes back to my initial response to Chuck Eppes soft peddling the CVS issue last month. That is that what we basically have here is a business that shows no concern for their own employees, customers, or the neighborhood as a whole. Now is appears that they do not even show the proper concern/respect for the very police officials that are suppose to assist in the apprehension of the villain.

Why in the world do we continue as a community to pander to this company? I personally would rather see an empty building there than to provide the continuous magnet for crime that store/facility has become. If CVS, as a business, showed more concern for providing security, then I would feel differently. As it is, I think they should be closed down, for the good/safety of the community...

Back to the Top

From: "Charles Pyle" <cpyle@gowebway.com>
Subject: Re: Our thoughts on CVS robbery
Date: Monday, October 29, 2001 7:03 AM

We stopped shopping at the CVS two years ago when CVS dropped corporate support of the Boy Scouts - some neighborhood pharmacy. I drove by there the other day to see two fine fellows hoofing it back toward Chamberlayne with a case of malt liquor. I really resent this company setting up in our neighborhood and serving as a magnet for the social disorganization that exists to our east. If they want to sell malt liquor and cheap wine, they should move closer to their customer base.

Back to the Top

From: "Wittel, Elaine" <ewittel@gov.state.va.us>
To: "'John Butcher'" <%20JohnRButcher@attbi.com%20>
Subject: RE: Our thoughts on CVS robbery
Date: Monday, October 29, 2001 9:36 AM

This is REALLY discouraging news ...... another robbery at CVS. HELLO, CVS ........... are you not yet comprehending the citizens' concern and demand for a security cop???

-----Original Message-----
From: John Butcher [mailto:%20JohnRButcher@attbi.com%20]
Sent: October 28, 2001 10:31 PM
Subject: Fw: Our thoughts on CVS robbery

Here is Virginia Sowers' take on the CVS stickup.

I think the most important point Virginia makes is near the end there: "[T]hat store was full of folks at 2 pm on Saturday." I am not sure if demanding a cop in the store is the right answer but it's clear that CVS' answer (doing very little and blaming it on the criminals) is NOT the answer.

Back to the Top

From: "Elizabeth Turner" <gwava4h@attbi.com>
Subject: Re: Our thoughts on CVS robbery
Date: Monday, October 29, 2001 10:26 AM

FW: Our thoughts on CVS robberyDear all,

We were on vacation the week the robbery occured with the woman and child involved. I spent a lot of time reading all the messages back and forth from everyone. Now this. While I appreciate the point made several weeks ago about supporting our local, neighborhood businesses, I also know that this particular CVS is obviously only listening to the Almighty Dollar, not us. My family does support our local businesses...we eat at our neighborhood restaurants or order take-out from them, we get our cars inspected at the garage in our neighborhood, our oil changed in our neighborhood, buy gas, gift shop, etc.

But I will go to the CVS in Carytown every time. As far as I'm concerned, the CVS at Boulevard is off limits and not an option. I value my safety and the safety of my family far too much. I see no benefit to us or anyone else by putting ourselves in a position to become "martyrs for the cause".

As for options, I agree with contacting the media, Call 12, the Times-Dispatch, letters to the editor, etc. I'm leary of the picketing. If the hoods are brazen enough to do their business at 1:30 on a busy day, what's to stop them from doing it to innocent picketers? I don't believe we should put ourselves in any more danger by becoming targets. That's not the kind of media event we need.

OK, let's write a bunch of letters to the editor of the paper, let's call for a boycott of that CVS. It didn't sting one bit when I personally boycotted Wal-Mart for a variety of reasons. This would be easy, and make an impression. There's plenty of other CVS's that care, and they all have the same prescription info on computer. We are not locked in to just one store.

So, that's my two cents.
Liz Turner

Back to the Top

From:  elizabe309@a... Date:  Sun Oct 28, 2001  3:56 pm Subject:  Re: [Bellevueneighborhood] CVS Robbery/Sat, Oct 27,2001

I was in CVS Saturday about 3:00 and there was what I thought was a new security guard at the door. He wasn't in any kind of a uniform, but looked "official". I was telling my daughter about all the trouble there, and thought maybe we ought to picket them. I didn't even know I was walking in on the tail of another crime. Isn't there some kind of city ordinance about running a public nuisance? I think they qualify. Elizabeth

Back to the Top

From: "John Butcher" <%20JohnRButcher@attbi.com%20>
Subject: CVS
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 6:36 PM

Jeff Swanson of CVS attended the general meeting last night. I credit him for walking into the same room with that many unhappy people. He announced that CVS will be putting security in the Bellevue Ave. store.

The good news stops there: The security will be unarmed. It will not be full time. They won't say when the security people will be there. Indeed Swanson refused to share the photos of the fellow who stuck the store up on Saturday.

Swanson's story is that armed security raises the risk and if they say when security will be there the Bad Guys will just come at another time. That is nonsense of course. Those of us who have shopped at the Ukrops in Carytown know that having a cop with his 9mm at the door produces an aura of comfort, not fear. Stickup artists are not checking the Bellevue web pages (or even the newspaper) to find out when there will be a security guard. In contrast, the customers very well might want to know: If the customers can't find out when there is a guard in the store they can't know when it is safe -- well, less unsafe -- to shop there.

In addition, we still have the blacked out windows facing the street and the cash registers right at the door. They could have a stickup (or for that matter a street dance) in that store without anybody on the sidewalk knowing about it. If you want to know how to lay out a store look at any 7-Eleven: clear view of most of the store from the street and a register back from the door but in clear view of the street. I.e., they do NOT do it like the Bellevue CVS.

All this leads me to the conclusion that CVS still is not serious about protecting its customers from the lowlifes that the beer and the cash draw into their store.

I am not sure a boycott is the answer. It is a form of nuclear warfare: It destroys everything instead of just the specific problem. For sure we all are better off for having that store there, at least so long as we are safe when we go into it. I have been chatting with Norma Murdoch-Kitt of Ginter Park about putting some volunteers on the sidewalk with a big sign: green for Guard in the Store, red for enter at your own risk. We are wondering if doing that for a Saturday or two (with perhaps some press coverage) would focus CVS on the desirability of hiring an armed deputy full time (or on a published schedule) to provide the same protection we get at the Ukrops store.

For now all this is at the talking stage. Please share your ideas and views by email (and put a note at the bottom if you don't want to see your email on the listserv or the web pages).

Back to the Top

---

The Mugging

 From:   scagnelli@sprintmail.com (Janet Scagnelli)
 Reply-to:   scagnelli@sprintmail.com
 To: Conteay@aol.com

 Dear Yvette,
     Here's a copy of the letter I sent to the CVS manager. Can you  forward it to that email list?   His response was an offer to personally shop with me. Perhaps everyone can request that for themselves.

 He faxed my letter to the district manager who still refused to get a security guard.

 Thanks, J

         Janet Scagnelli
        1607 Wilmington Ave.
        Richmond, VA 23227
        September 20, 2001

 To the manager of CVS on Bellevue Ave.,

  I was mugged in your store on September 12, 2001 at around 4pm. I am  writing to you because I have issues with the entire incident as it was handled in your store.

  First of all, you've been a target for robberies in the past. Why don't  you have a security guard like other CVS stores?   I was in the process of paying at the only cashier and putting my  wallet back in my purse when the thief grabbed my purse off my shoulder  and dragged me towards the door. My 2 year old son, who was very clingy  that day, had been sitting on the counter while I had been leaning into  him. I fianally let go of my purse, got up, and went back to comfort my  screaming son. I found my glasses that had been thrown aside.

   The women behind the counter did not offer any help. I asked to use a  phone to call my husband. The only person who stepped forward to help  was the woman from the dry cleaner's next door. I actually assumed she  worked there. She offered her phone, I expected the cashier to hand me  the phone which was right there and I had to go next door instead.  Before I went I had to sign my credit card slip. The same woman had to  tell the CVS people to call the police.

  Shouldn't everyone in the store know what to do if a mugging occurs?

 And it was the woman from the dry cleaner's who gave me a bandage for my  bleeding arm that I hadn't even noticed. She also found my car keys  inside the door when I panicked that they were missing.

  I remember 2 CVS employees coming back in the store after trying to  follow the thief. I don't remember any CVS employees talking to me,  except when my husband called back on their phone. I felt like I was  making the employees uncomfortable by being there. I waited outside for  the police. Is this how you treat victims in your store?

  I realize in the light of the tragedies of the day before, Sept. 11, a  mugging may be a minor thing. But I feel that the neighborhood should be  aware of the lack of security in your store. When my family moved to  this neighborhood, we switched to your store to support our local  shopkeepers, but we will not be coming back there again until we feel  safe. I am sending a copy of this letter to the neighborhood civic  associations and their newsletter editors so others can make an informed  choice.

 Sincerely,
 Janet Scagnelli

Back to the Top

From: "Bagley, Terrence M." <tbagley@mcguirewoods.com>
Subject: RE: CVS incident
Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 7:17 PM

I no longer live in Bellevue (its' been about 20 yrs), but I may have gotten on this list because I once sent John an e-mail telling him I enjoyed seeing this website. It saddens me to see problems such as the one at CVS. If I am not mistaken, that is the site of the former Willey's drug store that we "lived at" growing up in the 60s and 70s. I lived 4 blocks away on Newport Dr and my parents never thought twice about letting us walk there and hang out. It is too bad that you may not have that same reaction today. That whole block was the center of the universe. You can't imagine it now, but at one time there were 3 grocery stores there. Most weekends parking was at a premium . I could go on and on. Anyway, I commend you on your efforts in revitalizing that great old neighborhood and am sorry you have to endure the random acts of stupidity that occur.

Back to the Top

From: <epes1@mindspring.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 8:47 PM

I just have to respectfully disagree with the suggestion to stop patronizing CVS. However stupidly CVS may have reacted to this latest mugging and however obstinate they may be about beefing up security in the store, CVS is NOT the problem. The crooks are the problem, and our challenge is how to keep them out of Bellevue. There are probably lots of ways to do that -- cleaning up the Chamberlayne Ave. corridor, putting more cops on the street, better street lighting, etc. But helping drive CVS out by refusing to shop there just isn't going to help, in my humble opinion. It's counterproductive and will lead to yet more empty stores, more squalor, a greater sense of urban blight and abandonment. What we need are MORE people shopping up there, MORE businesses, MORE traffic (which is the main reason I'm ambivalent about the Crisis Pregnancy Center -- it may not be the perfect tenant but at least it's a tenant cleaning up an empty, rundown building). CVS is the anchor store on the Bellevue block. What, we want the healthiest business on Bellevue to go belly up? Yes, we probably need to reconvene a meeting with CVS and revisit security issues, but CVS is part of the solution, not part of the problem, and we shoot ourselves in the foot by going to war with them. We should save our outrage for the thugs and the those who let the conditions that breed thugs continue, not Bellevue merchants who get victimized.

OK, end of rant.

Chuck Epes

Back to the Top

From: "Charles Pyle" <cpyle@gowebway.com>
Subject: Re: CVS incident
Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 9:44 PM

Good points Chuck. We rarely shop at the CVS but I'd hate to see an empty store there. Perhaps the knowledge that this terrible incident is being publicized in the neighborhood will wake them up. I was angered a couple of years ago and complained to the ABC commission when they sold beer to a profoundly drunk woman ahead of me in line. I'd love to see them lose their ABC license - or at least agree not to sell cold beer or wine. My complaint to the cashier and manager was met with a shrug. I also have been in there when a young woman behind the register sold smokes to girls who appeared to be her friends. They may have been 18 but they could of fooled me. They need a security guard in there. It would be great to have a more responsible merchant there but who would that be?

Back to the Top

From: "Rufina George" <rvg2@email1.dss.state.va.us>
Subject: RE: CVS incident
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 08:49:55 -0400

I, too, am appalled at the CVS incident. I agree we need to put pressure on the CVS managers . . .

Back to the Top

From: "Nancy and Roy Reynolds" <nancyroy@attbi.com>
Subject: RE: CVS incident
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 11:19:13 -0400

Chuck and everyone:

Of course I agree with your sentiments here. My point is this. Over the last 6 months, the neighborhood has been trying to impact security at that store. There have been countless phone calls to the manager, and at least two meetings at Imperial Plaza with CVS management. What I got out of this email thread was that nothing much has changed over there. How do you suggest we get management's attention?

Back to the Top

From: Eleanor Bruce <ebruce@spottsfain.com>
Subject: RE: CVS incident
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 13:30:53 -0400

I am in complete agreement regarding the CVS problems. We need to support CVS, but we also need to keep the pressure on them to address and solve the security issues.

Back to the Top

From: "Charles Pyle" <cpyle@gowebway.com>
Subject: Re: CVS incident
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 18:35:52 -0700

RE: CVS incident
It would be nice to have a lovely green space there but who wants to buy the building and pay for the landscaping?

Back to the Top

From: "rickles" <rickles@attbi.com>
Subject: RE: CVS incident
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 23:34:16 -0400

I understand the business reasons to keep supporting the CVS, but does that make it the right thing to do? While the "neighborhood" continues to support CVS, this is a company that appears to be continually ambivalent to that neighborhood. This is a business that has been held up multiple times, had numerous muggings in and near their business, and still fails to show any sense of compassion or care to the neighborhood or it's residents. All I see is a business interested in the next dollar. Yes, profits are important for a business to survive, but so is doing what is right to protect not only that business, but its customers and employees. The CVS has failed miserably at that task.

As long as we, as a community, continue to support the CVS with our dollars, they have no motivation to change, or to show the needed community care by employing security personnel. Our dollars flowing into their business is one of the single biggest tools we have have to influence that change, particularly since other methods used in the past have seemed to fail. Do not disregard a boycott of a business simply because having that business in
place is "good for the community". A business insensitive to the needs of
that community (and supposedly its primary revenue base), no matter how big
of a community presence, must be judged by how it treats that community, and
judgement must be rendered.

Back to the Top

Last updated 02/24/02
Please send questions or comments to John Butcher