Richmond vape shops caught between police raids and armed robberies

By the numbers: Over a third of commercial robberies this year involved vape shops, Edwards said in a Wednesday crime briefing.

• Nearly 90% of those robberies involved firearms.

Between the lines: Edwards said Richmond police are also noticing a "disturbing" trend of guns found at these vape shops while they're executing search warrants.

• "The clerks are arming themselves because they're also targets of violence themselves."

Catch up quick: Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico police are banding together to raid local stores — part of a ramped-up crackdown that has, in some cases, involved military-style trucks and tactical gear.

• In the coordinated raids late last month, police collected over 75 pounds of marijuana and weed-related products across several vape shops.
• Edwards said they've also found some shops operating without a business license.

The intrigue: While the city and surrounding localities have proposed restrictions on where new vape shops can crop up, local police are limited in how much they can enforce without clearer state laws.

• They can raid shops tied to other crimes, but much of the routine oversight currently lies with state agencies.

What's next: Edwards is briefing City Council's public safety committee on the issue on Oct. 28.