Three arrested after series of ‘very brazen’ tobacco, vape shop robberies in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond officers have made multiple arrests in connection to a series of armed robberies at tobacco and vape shops in the city.

During the Richmond Police Department's quarterly crime briefing on Thursday, April 17, Police Chief Rick Edwards said that the department has been able to confirm at least three recent armed robberies of tobacco and/or vape shops in the city.

Edwards described a "significant arrest" of three people believed to be involved in this "series of very brazen and dangerous robberies," including two men and one teenager.

Surveillance footage provided of one in a series of tobacco and/or vape shop robberies in Richmond. (Photo: Richmond Police Department)

"They were zip-tieing clerks, stealing their phones -- very concerning behavior," Edwards said. "Luckily, none of the clerks were hurt physically, but [they are] obviously traumatized."

On March 9, shortly after the third armed robbery, officers spotted a vehicle that reportedly matched the description of one thought to be involved in the robberies. They were able to pull over the car and arrest all three suspects.

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Shown below are photos of items recovered in connection to the robberies, including firearms, cash, tobacco products, marijuana and more. Edwards placed an emphasis on the several fake license plates officers found.

Items recovered in connection to a series of tobacco and/or vape shop armed robberies in Richmond. (Photo: Richmond Police Department)

"People are using these fake license plates to get around some of our technology [license plate readers] -- and just [around] general witnesses," Edwards said. "They're putting fake tags on a car, [committing] these crimes and hoping to get away with it."

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Commercial burglaries in the city, on the whole, are up 78% this year compared to this time in 2024. Edwards said that this arrest and ones like it make him hopeful that this steep upward trend will end.