Masked bandit steals $1500

ELLISFORDE – A masked bandit held up Dan’s Market on Sunday, Sept. 8, one of two stores located on Highway 97 in the tiny community of Ellisforde.

“A Hispanic male with a box cutter came into the store wearing a hat, mask and gloves last Sunday afternoon demanding money,” said Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers. “He took $1500 and locked up the woman working there….”

The man was wearing black jeans, a dark hoody, a cap and a red bandana over his face, according to the clerk’s grandmother, who added that her granddaughter was locked in the beer cooler, not in a closet which had been reported earlier, until someone came into the store, heard her and let her out.

“When he locked her in there she blocked the door so he couldn’t open it again,” she said.

Rogers said that since the man was basically covered from head to toe and the woman did not see a vehicle it will be hard to find out who the robber was.

“Someone came in to the store and heard the woman and let her out and she reported the robbery to us,” said Rogers.

Dan’s Market is a convenience grocery store catering to those living and working in and around the Ellisforde area, as well as travelers on the highway.

The case is still under investigation.