ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Police are searching for a man who robbed a car wash Tuesday night on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak.
A gunman snuck into Jax Kar Wash after closing at about 7:30 p.m. and robbed the manager, getting away with thousands in cash.
Minutes after closing, the gunman entered through a side door that was unlocked. The two subsequent doors were supposed to be locked, but were left open.
The manager left the back office and returned to the armed robber aiming a gun at him, demanding everything from the safe.
Jason Callender is another manager at the car wash.
“It’s very scary,” Callender said. “Just seeing the firearm pointed at him … that could have been me.”
The manager helped the gunman fill a bag with money while the barrel of the gun was aimed at him.
“At night, when we close, we go around and make sure every door is locked,” Callender said. “Last night that didn’t happen.”
The robber managed to avoid looking directly into the surveillance cameras during most of the robbery.
Royal Oak police are investigating.