Movie theater hold up

KVUE's Steve Alberts reports

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Police are hunting for a masked gunman who robbed a movie theater in broad daylight.

It happened at the Arbor Cinema on Great Hills near Jollyville Road, just north of the Arboretum Friday morning. The theater remains closed.

Police say the robber entered the building with a gun, tied up the two employees inside and took money from the safe before he escaped. It's unclear if he fled on foot or in a car.

After the robbery, one of the employees was able to free herself and call 911.

Police arrived a short time later. They called out the canine unit to search the movie theater but no one was inside.

Police stopped several cars and detained the drivers, but they were later released.

The Arbor Cinema is not known for big blockbuster movies, but rather more artsy ones. Jon Bayh has been going there for years because of the alternative films.

"I came to see Boys in Striped Pajamas," he said

So when a daring masked gunman entered the movie theater Monday morning and tied up two employees before taking off with cash people were shocked.

"You wouldn't think a movie theater in the morning would be prime place to hit," said Bayh.

Police Sgt. Richard Stressing said the robber was brazen.

"This one tied them up had a weapon it was a little bit more than normal robbery," he said.

Dave Swenson owns the nearby Arbor Car Wash and Lube Center. Police detained one of his employees.

"It was pretty scary for him," he said.

The employee had gone on his break when police stopped him. He was driving in the movie theater parking lot about the same time as the robbery. He was later released.

"He has since gone home it shook him up pretty good," Swenson said.

Swenson has a surveillance system at his car wash and can usually see what's going on. But he didn't see anything on this morning. Police even stopped by for a look.

"Police have been in to look at our cameras to see if they could notice anybody in the area," he said.

The suspect is described as white, about 5’11” tall, with a thin build. He was last seen wearing black sweat pants over a pair of blue jeans, white tennis shoes, a green jacket and eyeglasses. If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 472-TIPS.