Pizza Hut Robber Develops Taste For It
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - An armed man who held up a Pizza Hit at gunpoint must have gotten a taste for robbery because he hit a Family Dollar store three days later.
The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) is hoping to get him off the streets before he strikes again and they've released surveillance video of the man they are looking for.
The first robbery occurred July 8th at the pizza franchise store at 1640 W Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach. The clerk told investigators that the man pretended to pay for his pizza and pulled a gun when she opened the register. He then reached over the counter and grabbed the cash. As he ran out of the store he called out to the cashier, "Don't look at me."
BSO's Gina Carter characterized the gunman as a time bomb for violence.
"This man's walking around with a gun. He has no problem pointing that gun at his victim's heads, just to get some cash out of a register," Carter said.
On July 11th, he struck again only this time he brought an accomplice, according to the sheriff's office.
The two men walked into the Family Dollar, at 2901 W. Oakland Park Boulevard, just before closing. They immediately went up to the employees and the man with the gun told the clerk behind the registers, "Give me the keys and give me the money, or I'll kill you."
As the clerk began to open the registers, the second robber, who seemed to be unarmed, walked around to the back of the counter to grab the cash. When the armed robber noticed a second employee was standing near the front of the store, he had the employee kneel by the registers.
It's a wonder the gunman in the two robberies hasn't killed someone. In both cases, throughout the heists, surveillance video shows he has his finger wrapped firmly around the trigger of his semi-automatic pistol. In the Pizza Hut holdup, he can be seen clearly racking a round into the weapon as he pulls it on the cashier.
"Imagine you're there working, it's late at night and this guy comes in out of nowhere, he's a got a weapon and it's in your face," said Carter. "You are really in shock in that moment. We need to get this guy off the street."
Those who live and work in the areas of both robberies say they have become accustomed to keeping an eye over their shoulder.
"You hate to feel that way, hate to expect things like that to happen," said Tyrone Pronty, a pharmaceutical rep who calls on clients in both neighborhoods. "In the day we live in you have to expect things like this to happen and just try your best to avoid them.
Anyone with information on either of the men is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954)493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. Anonymous tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
