Armed robber takes Nepal donations

Published 10:02 am Monday, May 4, 2015

 ST. PAUL — Police in St. Paul are looking for a man who robbed a small grocery store and took donations collected for Nepal earthquake victims.

Chhimi Doma Bhutia and her husband own Himalayan Grocery. Bhutia, who is nine months pregnant, was at work last week when a man came in, grabbed her by the shoulders and told her he would kill her if she called police. Bhutia says she saw the gun in his waistband.

The robber took about $700 in cash from the register and emptied the Nepal donation jar on the counter of another $300. The donations were personal for Bhutia and her family. Her sister-in-law survived the earthquake, but is living in a refugee camp.

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Til Pokwal Chhetri said he’s just thankful the robber didn’t hurt his wife.