Stealing money to repay drug debts is the reason Aaron McGuire, age 39, gave to the New Port Richey police to explain his week-long robbery spree. He was arrested on Friday, May 31, 2013 at his home and is charged with attempted armed robbery, bank robbery and robbery with a firearm. At the time of his arrest, police seized drugs and drug paraphernalia that McGuire had on his person.
The string of robberies started ten days earlier on May 21, when he went to a tanning salon on the pretense of booking a session. When the receptionist asked for his credit card to proceed with the payment for the tanning session, he laid his wallet on the counter and informed her that he was there to rob her and was not interested in the service. He asked for money and her keys to the salon. After that he ordered her at gunpoint to the back of the store. He told her that he would kill her if she did not allow him at least a minute to get away before she called the police.
On May 27, 2013, McGuire tried to rob a woman using an ATM. He ordered her to pass him her card and any money that she had. He showed her a gun that he had tucked into his pants and hidden under his shirt. It was later found that this was not a real gun. The woman refused to give him what he wanted and instead she ran to her car and got in. He pounded on the car. After McGuire got into his own car, the lady tried to follow him but he was driving so fast she was unable to keep up the chase.
The following day, May 28, the accused entered a BB&T bank and ordered the teller to pass over the money in the till. McGuire got away with $900. He was identified later in photo pack and was arrested from a tip from an informant that recognized him on a website.
When the police officers arrived at his home, McGuire was in the process of leaving in his car. The officers surrounded the vehicle and arrested him on charges of robbery. His bail has been set at $600,000 and he is still a guest of the Land O’ Lakes Jail.