HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 68-year-old woman who was ringing bells for the Salvation Army in a busy shopping plaza has spoken out after she was attacked during an attempted robbery. Luckily, two kind-hearted individuals came to her aid.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at a Publix store in Riverview. Billie Richert, the victim, had just finished her shift for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign when a man approached her and demanded her car keys.
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Richert recounted, “You think you’ll have time to react, but you really don’t. It happened so quickly.” Surveillance footage released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office captured the suspect, identified as Robert Moore, sitting on the curb. As Richert walked by, he demanded her keys, but she warned she would use pepper spray if he didn’t back off. Ignoring her, Moore threw her to the ground.
The commotion caught the attention of customers in the crowded parking lot, and they quickly came to Richert’s aid. One man, who preferred to remain anonymous, had served in the U.S. Army for over ten years and was able to detain Moore. Another man helped to hold the suspect down until the authorities arrived.
Richert expressed her gratitude, saying, “For somebody to get involved in something that they know nothing about and to help somebody, especially an elderly person—it was fantastic. Thank you.” She acknowledged the potential severity of the situation, stating that she could have suffered serious injuries.
Moore has since been arrested and is now facing charges of battery and robbery. Despite the traumatic experience, Richert remains resilient, refusing to let the incident dampen her spirits. “I’m not going to let him steal my joy. Not at all,” she affirmed.
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The Salvation Army bell ringer’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of community solidarity and the willingness of strangers to step in and protect one another in times of need.
