Manager of Ferndale Auto Parts Store Robbed at Gunpoint

With a semi-automatic handgun pressed against his neck, the manager of  in Ferndale was told to "take me to the safe" by one of two men who robbed the store on Wednesday morning, police said.

The store manager was standing near the door when the suspect entered the store at 640 W. Eight Mile Rd., Ferndale Police Lt. Detective William Wilson said.

Also inside the store was a female clerk. As she saw the incident unfold, she went toward the door and was met by a second suspect carrying a pair of wire snips, Wilson said.

"The suspect grabbed her by the shoulder stating, 'Where do you think you are going?'" Wilson said. "The suspect then forced her to go with the manager and the other suspect to the rear office area to get to the safe."

Once in the back office, the suspect cut the cords and wires to the computer, taking the hard drive with them as they fled the scene, Wilson said. Approximately $3,000 was taken, he said.

Ferndale Police were dispatched to the scene at 7:35 a.m. The responding officers were met by the manager and clerk standing in front of the registers.

According to Wilson, the two suspects fled on foot and were last seen running westbound from the store. "Officers searched the area but did not locate the suspects," Wilson said.

The manager described the suspect with the gun as a light-skinned black male about 6 feet 3 inches and 230 pounds. He had a mustache and was wearing a plaid gray and black shirt and red hooded sweatshirt.

The second suspect was described as a black male in his 20s, approximately 6 feet 1 inch and 170 pounds. He had a beard and mustache and was wearing green camouflage pants, a dark jean jacket and a dark hoody.

Anybody with information regarding this crime can call Ferndale Police at 248-541-3650.

Correction: A previous version of this story listed an incorrect time of the incident. This version corrects that error.