Police seek robbery suspect

A photo of the “strong-arm” robbery suspect taken from store surveillance video at the Hart Express EZ Mart convenience store on Polk Road Sunday night, April 19.

HART — Police are actively searching for a suspect who allegedly committed a “strong-arm” robbery at the Hart Express EZ Mart convenience store on Polk Road Sunday, April 19, shortly before midnight.

Area law enforcement agencies are attempting to identify the suspect described as a white male possibly in his 20s, with a skinny build with short blond hair who was last seen wearing a blue shirt and jeans. The suspect was seen driving a green Dodge extended cab 4×4 with a loud exhaust.

The suspect fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash and appeared to head west on Polk Road, said Hart Police Chief Dan Leimback. He allegedly pushed a female cashier out of the way and took money from an open register, Leimback said. He entered the store and began walking around and then went behind the counter, asking the cashier for cigarette prices, the chief said. The cashier, who was assisting another customer, asked the man to wait a moment but he pushed her out of the way and grabbed the cash. The employee was not injured, the chief said.

The suspected robber acted alone, the chief said. The store’s surveillance video showed the

The suspected pickup truck involved in the unarmed robbery at the Hart Express EZ Mart convenience store.

truck heading west on Polk Road following the robbery. The Hart Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and the Hart post of the Michigan State Police.

If you have information regarding the possible identity of the suspect, contact the Hart Police Department at 873-2488 or Mason/Oceana County Central Dispatch at 869-5858.