2 South Toledo carryouts robbed

Police: Convenience store holdups number 16 since May 1 in city

6/10/2014

Two South Toledo carryouts were robbed over the weekend, bringing the total number of convenience store holdups to 16 since May 1 and making solving the string of crimes a prime concern for police.

“It is of the highest priority around here,” said police Sgt. Joe Heffernan.

In each of the weekend robberies, two men — both armed, both wearing masks — went into the stores and demanded cash. In the Friday night incident, one of the suspects punched a clerk who didn’t comply fast enough for him.

In that robbery, at Save Way Red and White, 1936 Broadway, the suspects went into the store at 10:23 p.m. with T-shirts wrapped around their faces. One suspect rushed the counter and pointed his gun at the manager, according to a police report. When the manager didn’t open the cash drawer right away, the suspect punched him in the face, police said. A second suspect forced two customers to the floor. The suspects took $400 cash and fled on foot.

Saturday, at 9:44 p.m., two armed men robbed In & Out Mart, 2425 Key St. The suspects demanded cash from the register and took cigarettes. They also took cash from a customer who had been in the process of making a purchase, police said.

The Saturday night robbery was less than a mile from a Wednesday night carryout robbery at Eastgate Carry Out, 1853 Eastgate Rd.

Of all similar robberies since May, nine incidents were committed by two men. Police have definitively connected six cases, but have not said whether any others could be related. Most of the cases have been in South Toledo, although there were two each on the city’s north and east sides.

Police have declined to release surveillance video or images of suspects and detailed suspect descriptions have not been made available.

Police ask that anyone with information call the Crime Stopper program at 419-255-1111. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward.

Contact Taylor Dungjen at tdungjen@theblade.com, or 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.