Akron detectives are investigating three robberies last week that they think were committed by the same suspects who wore masks or bandanas to obscure their faces.
The first robbery happened about 3:30 p.m. Friday at B&K Root Beer, 2184 Manchester Road. Employees said the robber entered the restaurant with a handgun and demanded money from the register. The suspect fled with an unreported amount of cash, heading west on West Wilbeth Road on foot, according to the Akron Police Department.
Police described the suspect as a black male, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a mesh Halloween mask over his face and dark clothing and gloves.
The second robbery was at about 9 p.m. Friday at the Dollar General at 994 Brown St. Employees said the robber entered the store with a handgun, jumped over the counter and demanded money. An employee opened the register but there was no money in it. Other employees ran to a back room and locked the door. The suspect fled without getting any money.
Police described the suspect as a black male, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet, 150 to 165 pounds, wearing a camouflage mask covering his face, a blue hooded sweatshirt and pants.
The third robbery occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Friday at Mama Rose’s restaurant, 1115 Brown St. Employees said the robber entered the restaurant with a handgun and demanded that employees open the safe. The suspect started counting down from 10 and threatened to shoot the employees if they didn’t open the safe. The suspect took a metal box containing cash from the safe and cash from the register and fled out of the rear door.
Police described the robber as a black male, 6 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 6 inches, wearing a black bandana over his face, a dark hooded sweatshirt and gray pants.
Lt. Rick Edwards, the Police Department’s spokesman, said detectives think the same two to three people are working together and committing the robberies.
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call the Akron Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490.