Charlottesville police currently are conducting a search for a suspect involved in a robbery Tuesday night at the Barracks Road Shopping Center.
According to Charlottesville police, the theft occurred in the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at approximately 10 p.m.
The incident was reported as an armed robbery.
The suspect in the Barnes and Noble bookstore robbery reportedly lifted his jacket and displayed a small, dark handgun during the theft, Charlottesville police Sgt. M.G. Davis said.
"No one was injured," Charlottesville communications director Maurice Jones said. But "an undisclosed amount of money was stolen."
The suspect is described as a white male, 6-foot-tall, between 25 and 30 years old. The suspect has light brown or blond eyebrows.
At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a purple and blue waist-length jacket with writing in the right chest area. His hair was covered by a purple fleece cap.
The robbery marks the second burglary at the shopping center in the past week.
The first theft occurred at Ben and Jerry's, Davis said.
"I'm surprised," Davis added. "Robberies are unusual for that area."
A number of students also said they were taken off-guard by the robbery at Barracks.
"I think it's shocking," third-year College student Kristin Frost said. "From my experiences, it's always been pretty safe there."
Frost said security issues no longer can be limited to downtown Charlottesville.
"We saw things happen at Rugby too," she added. "There are no definite safe or unsafe places anymore."
First-year College student Matt Park said he agreed the threat of crime cannot be overlooked in areas assumed to be safe.
"You wouldn't think Barracks would be the type of place for a robbery, but bad things can happen anywhere," he said.
"It would be one thing if it were at 2 in the morning," said first-year College student Rebecca White. "But at 10 o'clock, that definitely makes it more surprising."
Management at the Barnes and Noble bookstore declined to comment on the incident.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Detective S.L. Dillon at 970-3280.
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