Lebanon, Ohio

From the Lebanon Western Star of November 25, 2005

Lebanon jewelry store owner shoots at thief’s get-away car

The owner of Sabrina’s Diamonds and Jewelry in downtown Lebanon fired a single bullet into the get-away vehicle of a robber who kicked in one of the store’s display windows and made off with more than $20,000 worth of merchandise at 6:04 p.m. Wednesday, the store’s owner said.

After hearing glass shatter and seeing a man grabbing jewelry, Jason Anglin said he pursued the robber into the alley beside his East Mulberry Street store, where a get-away driver was waiting in a white, older-model Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.

Anglin said he fired a shot from his 10mm handgun into the vehicle’s fender after the driver of the robber’s get-away vehicle tried to run him over.

“I didn’t shoot at the suspects or try to endanger them,” Anglin said. “I was trying to stop them from running me over.”

The vehicle fled north up the alley and turned the wrong way on New Street. It then caused a collision at the corner of New and Broadway streets where it turned south, Lebanon Police Officer Robb White said.

Anglin described the robber as a black male, over six feet tall wearing a parka with fur trim around the hood. It is not known if the suspect was armed.

Anglin said he was still calculating the total value of the stolen merchandise, which was not insured.

“We’re praying that the community, when they think of Christmas presents this year, they think of jewelry from Sabrina’s,” Anglin said.

Officer White said the police’s first concern was the theft, but that he also had questions about Anglin’s decision to fire the gun.

“It was very dangerous, what he did,” White said.