Clarksville police search for suspects after failed Big Lots robbery attempt

A cashier’s split-second move shut down a late-night robbery attempt at Big Lots in Clarksville, forcing two suspects to flee empty-handed after one of them reportedly pointed a firearm at the register. The quick closure of the cash drawer turned what could have been a cleaner grab into a failed attempt, underscoring how vulnerable front-line workers are in the seconds after a register opens.

Clarksville police said the attempted robbery happened around 8:39 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Big Lots at 1041 S. Riverside Drive in the Clarksville Shopping Center. Investigators said two masked Black men entered the store wearing disposable face masks and appeared to be buying a Slim Jim before the robbery attempt began. When the cashier opened the register, one suspect tried to grab the cash drawer, but the cashier shut it quickly.

Police said the suspect then pointed a firearm at the cashier and used a hammer in an effort to break open the register. The suspects were not able to get the cash and ran from the store on foot. They were last seen behind a nearby Dairy Queen. Clarksville police released surveillance images as the investigation continued, and Scott Beaubien, the department’s public information officer, has been handling the case.

For Big Lots workers, the incident highlights the narrow window when risk spikes most sharply: closing time, cash-handling moments, and any interaction that starts as a routine sale. The sequence described by police suggests the cashier’s immediate reaction prevented the suspects from gaining access to the till, a reminder that robbery-response training can matter in the first few seconds of a threat. It also shows how quickly a standard transaction can turn dangerous when someone uses a purchase as cover.

Clarksville police are asking anyone who recognizes the suspects from their clothing or the released surveillance images to contact Detective Heath at 931-648-0656, ext. 5223. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 931-645-8477 or through P3tips.com/591. The store sits in a south Clarksville retail corridor that serves Fort Campbell, Oak Grove and surrounding communities, placing the case in a busy commercial area where employees often work late-night shifts and closing routines.