AMHERST — A package store owner in North Amherst said Tuesday he is recovering from injuries he suffered during an unarmed robbery in which more than $1,000 was stolen from his business Monday morning.
But Matthew Corcoran, of Leverett, who said he was ambushed by a man around 11:15 a.m. while exiting the back door at Watroba’s, 79 Sunderland Road, said he is less concerned about his own well-being and more focused on ensuring Amherst police do a thorough investigation and bring charges against his assailant.
“I took a few blows,” Corcoran said, observing that while he has no broken bones, he suffered a black eye, a kick mark on his chest, a skinned elbow and bruises. “The question now is, can we get Amherst Police to do a thorough investigative job.”
He cited an incident in April 2014 at Watroba’s in which someone smashed a window and attempted to remove an ATM that was bolted to the floor. While surveillance video captured the suspect and the suspect’s truck was identified, Corcoran said, police never filed charges. He said he regrets not pushing harder for the department to solve that crime.
Police Chief Scott Livingstone said he could not immediately recall the details of the 2014 incident. For the latest incident, he said an in-depth investigation began immediately and is continuing.
“Three people are working full time on it,” Livingstone said.
He said that includes interviewing eyewitnesses, processing evidence collected from the scene and following other leads.
The suspect is described as a black male, 6 feet tall, wearing dark running pants, a dark-colored jacket and a blue baseball cap, according to the Amherst Police Department.
After the crime was reported, a K-9 unit from the department tracked the suspect for several hundred feet toward Montague Road before losing his scent, Livingstone said.
Corcoran said he was leaving his store with a bag containing a checkbook and $1,050 in cash when he was charged by the man and a struggle ensued for 15 to 20 seconds. During that struggle, the checkbook and money flew out of the bag, and the suspect lost his cigarette lighter, which fell under Corcoran’s truck. Corcoran was able to grab the lighter.
“I wasn’t going to let him have it,” Corcoran said.
While the suspect fled with cash, Corcoran is convinced fingerprints can be lifted from the lighter.
“We have an idea of who he is and where he comes from,” Corcoran said.
With some of the money stolen associated with lottery ticket sales, he added that he hopes Massachusetts State Police can assist the Amherst Police Department.
The suspect may be an experienced criminal, Corcoran said, observing that he appeared to know some of the store’s protocols for handling money. Corcoran added that it is important to get the person off the street so he doesn’t return a second time, or attempt to rob other businesses.
Police are asking the public to call 259-3000 with more information.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.