Dallas Area Food Trucks Targeted In Recent Robberies
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Targeted in two recent robberies, food trucks in the Dallas area say they're taking precautions.
Social media sites for several businesses are buzzing with the news.
"Food truckers be on alert," reads a recent tweet from Jack's Chowhound. "They are armed and aggressive."
The first robbery, on June 27, happened at a gas station where dozens of food trucks refuel on their way to the local commissary. According to a Dallas police report, the driver, Olga Rodriguez, was pumping gas, when a car pulled up with three men inside.
One of the men jumped out, grabbed the purse off her shoulder and shoved her to the ground.
This week, Grand Prairie police say they also received a report of a robbery at a food truck. According to managers at United Catering, a commissary servicing local food truck businesses, the truck named La Morenita was at its usual spot Tuesday outside the U-Pull-It auto salvage, when two men with guns entered and held it up.
"It caught everyone off guard, but I don't think it was unsuspecting, just spur of the moment thing. I think they had a plan," said Jon Wagner, co-owner of The Butcher's Son.
Wagner says food trucks may appeal to robbers.
"The preconceived notion that food trucks carry a lot of cash makes it an easy target, but that's not true, because a lot of trucks take credit card," he said.
Truck operators also say they regularly hand off cash to a manager or co-worker in a less visible vehicle. The robberies have them sticking together and exchanging advice on the safest gas stations to visit.
They may be competitors, but in their tight knit community, owners say safety comes first.
