Tips sought on armed, masked robbers

12/2/2000

Toledo police seek information through the Crime Stopper program about robberies committed by Hispanic males who brandished guns and wore masks or bandanas to cover their faces.

Two robbed the Burger King at 1940 South Byrne Rd. about 6 a.m. Nov. 14. When a worker answered the back door, she was confronted by the men, who took cash from the safe, police said.

Seven days earlier, two men barged into Nino's sports bar, 962 Emerald Ave., about 8:30 p.m. A patron was robbed, and the barmaid was told to open the cash register, which they took.

On Nov. 2, three men entered Gator's bar, 1432 Ingomar Ave., about 1:40 a.m. One demanded money at gunpoint. The other men robbed the bar patrons, police said.

Thirty minutes before that, three men robbed Kopper's bar, 549 Navarre Ave. One of the men held a gun to the barmaid's head and de–manded money and cigarettes. He then hit the barmaid in the head with the gun, knocking her to the floor. The men robbed several bar patrons, who were ordered to the floor, and kicked or hit them with their guns. They took a pickup truck owned by one of the patrons, police said.

The men in the Nino's robbery were about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 135 pounds. One had thick, black, wavy hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a dark, zippered sweatshirt and khaki pants. The other man wore a dark, pullover sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black Nike shoes. At Kopper's, they had slicked-back hair and wore baggie clothes. One wore a New York Yankees baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the men is asked to call the Crime Stopper program. Callers may remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.