The Boulevard Adult Boutique store, which is less than a block away from the Student Center, was robbed on Jan.10 by a man whose identity is currently unknown.
The man had previously robbed the store before.
Details are still limited about the robbery, but Pittsburgh Police are investigating the incident and took several items the suspect left behind, such as a pillowcase he dropped in the store.
Kirsten Waller, an employee at the store who is a former Point Park student, said that the suspect tried to get away with several items such as a douche and multiple dildos. Waller said that the suspect also tried to get away with what she described as a vibrating butt, but he dropped the vibrating piece of the toy on the way out of the store.
The owner of the Boulevard Adult Boutique has pictures of people they suspect have stolen from or otherwise robbed the store posted near the checkout area. The suspect who robbed the store on Jan. 10 is shown on the picture wall twice.
When the suspect stole from the store the first time, Waller said he stole what she described as a penis pump and a butt plug.
Smithfield News, a convenience store which is in the same building, also displays pictures of people who they say have stolen from the store.
According to Pittsburgh Police dispatchers, a 25-year-old woman at Smithfield News was refusing to leave the store and was harassing customers about 20 minutes before the Boulevard Adult Boutique was robbed.
Dispatchers also said that the person at Smithfield News was upset about a refund related to lottery tickets. These two incidents do not appear to be related.
Waller said that while the suspect did not get away with many items, the incident is legally considered a robbery because he walked out with high-priced goods. Additionally, Waller said the suspect pushed the manager on duty at the Boulevard Adult Boutique, which left them very bruised.
A Point Alert for the robbery was sent to all students subscribed to the notification system at 9:38 p.m. on Jan. 10.
“Robbery suspected at the Adult Mart,” the alert said. “The suspect is a black male wearing gray sweatpants and a gray shirt. The suspect fled in a dark-colored vehicle.”
Boulevard Adult Boutique used to be an Adultmart, but it closed in spring 2022 and reopened under new ownership in fall, 2022.
A picture of the suspect’s vehicle is not on display at the Boulevard Adult Boutique – only his face is. He still has not been named, but Waller said that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
“The whole forensics team came and took stuff because he left his gloves,” Waller said. “He didn’t even wear them, he just left them here.”
According to Pittsburgh Police dispatchers, the suspect said that he had a gun, but he did not show any employee at the Boulevard Adult Boutique a gun during the robbery. Waller also said that she did not see a gun, but was told by the suspect that he had one.
While the Point Alert sent out to students said that the suspect fled in a car, a Pittsburgh Police officer on the scene said that the suspect ran on foot down Boulevard of the Allies in-between buildings on Point Park’s campus. He eventually reached Fort Pitt Boulevard. Pittsburgh Police dispatchers later said that the suspect was seen getting into a dark-colored car, possibly a Chevrolet Cobalt.
According to Pittsburgh Police, the suspect’s car was last seen passing by the Allegheny County Jail.
Waller said that she tries to understand why people steal essential goods, but can’t understand the reason why someone would steal from the store she works at.
“I try to have sympathy with it, but at the same time, there’s really nothing in this store that anyone needs to survive,” Waller said. “I just hope he gets caught.”
A spokesperson for Pittsburgh Police was unavailable for comment. Point Park Police did not respond to a request for comment.
Despite the robbery and other incidents with people stealing from the store in the past, Waller said that she still enjoys her job and likes her co-workers at the Boulevard Adult Boutique.
“I love my manager and my boss; they’re the best people I’ve ever met in my life,” Waller said. “They gave me a chance like no one else did.”
