Police: Man says he committed 9 armed robberies in Metro Detroit to feed his twins

Mohamed Abdi arrested at CVS in St. Clair Shores

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. – A man who admits to a string of robberies in southeastern Michigan said he did it to feed his family. 

Mohamed Abdi, 32, of Warren, was caught this week when he was robbing a CVS Pharmacy on Greater Mack Avenue in St. Clair Shores. When officers caught him in the act he allegedly admitted to having a gun and said, "I did something stupid."

According to a criminal complaint, after his arrest and while being processed at the St. Clair Shores Police Department Abdi said he "did what he did to feed his twins."

What he did was a handful of armed robberies and attempted armed robberies at pharmacies, drugs stores and dollar stores, according to the criminal complaint. That includes a robbery July 24, 2017 at a CVS Pharmacy on Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores, which Abdi originally denied doing until police showed him surveillance video, according to the criminal complaint. 

Abdi was armed with a revolver during the robberies, police said. During his arrest on Wednesday, police found the gun in the center console of his car along with $506 in cash stuffed inside a CVS bag. 

Found gun while working at Detroit gas station

Abdi allegedly told officers he used to work at a gas station in Detroit where two men got into a fight. One of the men dropped the gun under a shelf in the gas station, and Abdi later picked it up and kept it. He would use this same gun during the robberies and attempted robberies, according to the court filing. 

As for how the robberies went down, according to the court filing Abdi told officers he normally would look for stores where there weren't a lot of people around. He said he would sometimes ask for razor blades because he is bald. Then he would approach the cashier and demand money. If the cashier hesitated, Abdi would reveal the gun in his waistband. 

According to the court filing, Abdi said he never wanted to hurt anyone never actually pointed the weapon at anyone. 

Police expect he is responsible for about nine armed robberies including the following locations: 

  • June 26, 2017: Family Dollar on 9 Mile Road in Eastpointe
  • June 26, 2017: CVS on 9 Mile Road in Warren
  • July 11, 2017: Rite Aid on Southfield Road in Allen Park
  • July 24, 2017: CVS on Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores
  • July 30, 2017: Rite Aid on Michigan Avenue in Wayne
  • July 31, 2017: CVS on 13 Mile Road in Warren
  • Oct. 16, 2017: CVS on Dix in Lincoln Park
  • Oct. 17, 2017: CVS on Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores
  • Oct. 18, 2017: CVS on Greater Mack Avenue in St. Clair Shores

Police said Abdi admitted to all of the robberies listed above and he may be responsible for more robberies in Taylor and Lincoln Park.

Right now he is charged with interference with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. 

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About the Authors:

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.