Brooklyn Baby Store Owner On Edge After Knifepoint Robbery

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A baby store was held up at knifepoint in Brooklyn this week, and the suspect was still on the run Wednesday night.

As CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported, the crime caught the neighborhood off guard.

On a normal day at Tiny Brooklyn on Court Street in Carroll Gardens, the door is wide open. Customers are welcomed in to look for unique clothing for kids.

But Wednesday was not like the other days.

"For today, the door is locked," said owner Rachel Blackburn.

Blackburn said the store was still recovering from the shock of what happened there Tuesday afternoon. While one of her employee's watched the store, she says a man came in with a knife.

Blackburn described the weapon as a "sizable kitchen knife." She explained what the suspect did as she walked toward the back of her store.

"He forced her from here back into here -- this is like our back area -- into this tiny little bathroom," she said as she opened a bathroom door.

The man forced the woman to stay put for about 20 minutes while he searched the store. He cleaned out the register and stole the employees cellphone and wallet, Blackburn said.

"She seems remarkably OK. I mean, physically, she's not harmed. She's not hurt," Blackburn said. "Yesterday, I think she was pretty scared and shaken up."

Blackburn said others have come in asking for money before, but nothing like what happened Tuesday.

"Nothing scary scary," Blackburn said.

"It's surprising, because this neighborhood is so family-oriented," said Hallie Meyer.

"It's ridiculous," said Glenda Hector, who told CBS2 Carroll Gardens is typically a quiet neighborhood. "I feel pretty safe until now I'm hearing this."

This may not be the first time the suspect preyed on a store catering to kids. Area Play on Smith Street, just half a mile away, was robbed under similar circumstances a few weeks ago.

Police believe the two incidents may be related and are looking for surveillance video of the suspect.

Blackburn said she plans to invest in security cameras for her business.