St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and NOPD seek man who committed “simple robbery” in two pharmacies, reaching in to steal money from cash registers

A New Orleans man who committed what is called “simple robbery” recently in pharmacies in both New Orleans and Chalmette, reaching in and stealing money from cash registers while in line, is wanted by both New Orleans police and the St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s Office.

Christopher Dunbar, 42, who is on parole until 2024 for a past armed robbery conviction, wore the same clothing while stealing money from a cash register on Aug. 6 at a Walgreen’s at Elysian Fields Avenue at Gentilly Boulevard in New Orleans and on Aug. 8 at a Walgreen’s at Judge Perez Drive at Paris Road in Chalmette, authorities said.

Warrants alleging simple robbery were issued for Dunbar’s arrest in New Orleans and Chalmette.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Dunbar, last seen driving a gray-colored Chevy Malibu taken from his mother in New Orleans, should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 and they could be eligible for a reward if it leads to his arrest, St. Bernard Sheriff Pohlmann said. The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 271-2501.

Pohlmann said his department, NOPD and Walgreen’s security officials are working together to identify and find Dunbar before anyone is hurt in another robbery attempt.

A witness got a license plate number of the vehicle that fled after the Aug. 6 robbery in New Orleans and it was traced to Dunbar’s mother who is the owner. That led to identification of Dunbar.

Later, the clerk’s in the stores who were working at the registers during the robberies both identified Dunbar from photo line-ups, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

In both cases, he was in line at a register behind others and when the register was opened he forced his way past them, reached over and stole money and fled. No one saw a weapon.

Pohlmann said that in the Chalmette robbery, which happened about 2:30 a.m., a second man described as older than Dunbar and with gray facial hair was seen standing outside the store. A witness said Dunbar ran out and screamed to the other man, “Let’s go man, we gotta go,’’ and both fled in the gray Malibu, heading eastbound on Judge Perez Drive.