Police in Iowa City say an armed man robbed an adult entertainment store early this morning. It happened at Romantix Pleasure Palace around 3:00 a.m. Sergeant Denise Brotherton says the suspect displayed a large knife and tried to enter an employee area behind the cash register.
“The employee was able to run from him. She jumped over the counter and ran out of the business,” Brotherton said. “He did follow her, though he was not able to catch up to her. He then returned to the store and took an undisclosed amount of merchandise.”
Police were initially notified by a hold up alarm and the later by the store employee when she called 911. The suspect stole several items, including a sex doll valued at $250. Brotherton said the employee is fortunate she wasn’t hurt.
“He chased her out of the business and went after her. So, that’s kind of alarming. I mean, it’s alarming to begin with, but it’s alarming what may have happened to her had she not gotten out of there,” Brotherton said. The employee described the suspect as a white man, 5’8″ to 5”10″ and 165 pounds. He was wearing a black coat and scarf over his face and carrying a backpack.
Brotherton said investigators are checking to see if the store’s video surveillance system captured the robbery.