TOWN OF BROOKFIELD -- A man remains on the run after robbing an ALDI food market forcing area businesses in the Town of Brookfield into an emergency lockdown.
“From what we were told there was a man inside of ALDI with hostages,” Thomas Gibson said.
“We heard there was a lady in the bathroom and she was the one who called it in,” Yianni Goumenos chimed in.
The Town of Brookfield Police Department responded to a call for an armed robbery Saturday night. Upon arrival, officers saw a male suspect with a gun inside ALDI. Two store employees were able to escape on their own, but a third victim was rescued from the store by police while area businesses like Best Buy were contacted and placed on lock-down.
Kevin Wegner sent this photo from inside Best Buy where they're still on lockdown. Surveillance video shows SWAT & police surrounding Aldi. pic.twitter.com/4QFqCIH3oX
— Ben Jordan (@BenJordan3) September 17, 2017
“I was a little worried [and] nervous,” Jimmy said.
“The store was on lockdown I think from 8:30 until 11 something, but when they ended the lockdown not everybody obviously could get out to their cars at once,” he continued.
Kevin Wegner says Brookfield Best Buy is no longer on lockdown. Customers are being allowed to leave. Some have been there for 3+ hours.
— Ben Jordan (@BenJordan3) September 17, 2017
Jimmy, who prefers not to give his last name, was shopping at Best Buy just moments before the store was forced into the emergency lockdown. He said he had little information at the time, but he and about 20 other customers watched surveillance video from inside the store to get a better idea of what was happening outside.
We could see a bunch of police cars in the parking lot, but other than that we didn’t know too much,” Jimmy said.
The Waukesha County Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) was called in for backup, but the suspect was never found.
In a statement sent via email to TODAY’s TMJ4 a spokesperson for ALDI said:
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers, employees and the community. We’re cooperating fully with the [Town of] Brookfield Police Department as they investigate this unfortunate incident.”
The suspect is described as a black male with a baseball hat that had a sticker on it, a bandana covering his face, black hooded sweatshirt over a white t-shirt, dark pants, carrying a black backpack, and armed with a handgun. The suspect managed to get away with money from the store, but the amount is unknown. Police suspect this incident may be related to other ALDI store armed robberies in the area.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Town of Brookfield Police Detective-Sergeant Gwen Bruckner at (262) 796-3798.
