Columbia police seek help in smoke shop robbery

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police are asking for help identifying the person who stole money after damaging a machine in a northeast Columbia smoke shop.

The Columbia Police Department said in a news release that a man entered We B Smokin, 2716 Paris Road, at about 1 p.m. Monday and damaged a countertop coin-operated machine with a "large hammer" while yelling at an employee. The man was last seen running south with an undisclosed amount of money, police say.

The department is asking for the public's help identifying the man, described by police as about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with a slender build. He was wearing blue jeans, a dark jacket, a blue baseball cap, a dark face mask and gray gloves, police say.

Police ask anyone with information to call the department at 573-874- 7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573-875-8477 to remain anonymous.