Gibson's held up on Saturday

Gibson's Bakery was the victim of a robbery on Saturday night. It was the first time in 50 years that Gibson's has been held-up.

On the night of Sept. 25, a black male described as having a thin to medium build and being between the ages of 30 and 40 entered Gibson's and walked to the rear of the store. He stood in line and was rung up for a bottle of Tylenol, at which time he handed the cashier, junior Ethan Joselow, a note demanding the money in the cash register.

Said Joselow, "The note said, 'I have a gun, this is a robbery, give me the money,' and I noticed a bulge under his shirt."

Joselow was unable able to get the cash drawer open, and the other cashier, Helen Mack, then came to assist him. At that time, the suspect verbally threatened them, took an undisclosed amount of money and ran.

There were eight witnesses inside Gibson's at the time of the incident, but few were aware that the robbery had taken place.

"I think I walked right past them when the whole thing was happening," said college junior Maya Leonard-Cahn. "There were a bunch of us in line discussing the rugby game, but we didn't realize what was going on. It didn't really sink in until the clerk showed us the note."

Two witnesses outside on the sidewalk saw the suspect run out of Gibson's in the direction of the Conservatory, but they didn't know that a crime had just been committed.

The Oberlin Police Department has no suspects at this time, but is compiling evidence with the cooperation of the employees and witnesses involved.

The robbery is the first such incident that has occurred since Allyn Gibson took over Gibson's Bakery in January of 1948.

"I heard of an attempt many years ago - I'm talking about before there were cars - but they didn't get anything," Gibson said.

Witnesses are divided as to how they feel about the affair.

"It was a matter of time," Joselow said. "We've got a booming business downtown. Eventually someone was going to take advantage of it. I just wish I wasn't there when it happened."

"Oberlin is like almost any other community. We have some of every type of person here. I don't fault anyone for this happening. I'm just awfully glad no one got hurt. That's the number one concern," Gibson added.

Yet some felt that in a small town like Oberlin, these things aren't supposed to happen.

Leonard-Cahn said, "I was really surprised. It makes me realize how oblivious I can be. We don't live in a bubble, as much as we'd like to think we do. It's sobering to think about the outside influences we are affected by."