INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Early Wednesday morning Independence Police responded to a fireworks tent located in a Gordman’s parking lot at 13500 E. 40 Highway. They had receiving a call from the overnight security guard saying he had been robbed at gunpoint
“Since 1980, which is how long we’ve had these tents, we have never ever had an armed robbery. This is this first time,” tent manager Andrew Morton said.”
Morton manages the fireworks tent operated by Lighthouse Fireworks that benefits Hillcrest Ministries. Hillcrest provides transitional housing for homeless and battered women and their families.
He said three men pretended to have a stalled car near the tent. When the security guard came to help, the suspects pulled guns.
“Three young men came and held him up at gunpoint. They filled their car full of merchandise from our tent. And they also stole his van and filled it with merchandise from our tent,” Morton said.
According to Morton, not only was the security guard’s van stolen, but so were his cell phone, wallet and shoes.
Just a couple blocks away, Sharon Meyer sells fireworks for the same company, raising money for Hillcrest Ministries.
“We’ve got two people here all the time and they do a really good job,” Meyer said.
Meyer said she feels comfortable being next to a 24-hour grocery store with constant police patrols.
“It can happen anywhere but we feel secure and there is no money in the tents,” Meyer said.
Back at Morton’s tent, he said between $4,000-$5,000 worth of merchandise was stolen. However he’s thankful that’s the only damage.
“Extremely relieved that no one got hurt, it’s stuff, we can replace stuff, yeah it’s hard, it was a hit but I’m relieved nobody got hurt in the situation,” Morton said.
The security guard was not injured in the fracas but said that his dog that was with him at the time was injured. Anyone with info on the robbery or suspects is urged to contact Independence Police at (816) 325-7330 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.