Revivals Customers Call Store Robbery ‘Low, Desperate’

Customers at a Cathedral City thrift store, which donates proceeds to the Desert Aids Project, are calling an armed robber’s crime at the store Tuesday a “low, desperate” act.

According to Cathedral City Police, the robber described as a Hispanic man walked into the Revivals store in the 68-100 block of Ramon Road, pointed a gun at the store’s manager, and demanded money.

“He stuck a gun to [the manager’s] head and said, ‘You have 60 seconds to open up the safe,'” store manager Michael Scarff said Wednesday.

According to police, the robber took an unknown amount of cash, wrapped it in a white cloth,and fled from the store and the shopping center on foot. No one was injured in the robbery, but Scarff said the experience had to betraumatizing for his co-worker and inconceivable due to the store’s charitable mission.

“It’s really upsetting…to take money from people who desperately need those funds to live. It’s unimaginable.”

Customers at the store Wednesday said the crime could be the result of desperation in these tough economic times.

“Somebody robs a thrift store?” customer David Whittaker asks. “They must really be hurting.”

“That is very low,” another customer, Vivian Greg, said. “People are hard up for work.”

Revivals stores in the Coachella Valley benefit the Desert Aids Project. The money is used to provide care to those living with HIV and AIDS.

Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic man, about 35 to 40 years old, with a medium-light complexion. He was last seen wearing a long sleeve white sweatshirt, dark colored pants, and a dark blue baseball cap.

Police urge anyone with information on the incident to call 760-770-0303.