$2,000 reward offered for information on robbery suspects

Surveillance video images showing two men sought by police in multiple robberies.

After a string of carryout robberies in Toledo, police today released surveillance images of the suspects.

The photo shows two masked men with guns inside a Western Avenue Stop & Go on May 16. Police said a $2,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.

The Western Avenue store, at 1409 Western, was robbed again Tuesday night, police said.

At 11:29 p.m., two masked, armed men went into the store and said they were there to commit a robbery. The clerk, Jaren Saffle, was armed and fired at the suspects; one of the suspects returned fire. No one, including the two customers who were in the store, were injured, police said. After the exchange of gunfire, the suspects fled.

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The Stop & Go was robbed previously on May 16 by two armed, masked men. That robbery occurred at 11:33 p.m. The suspects went into the store, one jumped the counter and demanded cash from a clerk. The second suspect ordered, at gunpoint, the employees and another man to the floor and demanded their money. The suspects fled with more than $5,500 cash.

After that robbery, a police report described the first suspect as black, about 18 years old, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The second suspect was described as black, 6 feet, 1 inch tall, 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Since May 5, 17 carryouts in the city – primarily in South Toledo – have been robbed, 10 of the hold-ups were at the hands of two men, always armed and always masked. Since the robberies started, the suspects have become progressively more violent, sometimes hitting store employees.

Most of the incidents are reported between 9 p.m. and midnight, although several have occurred during early morning hours. The robberies have taken place when clerks were alone, when there were multiple people working, and when customers have been inside the store.