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Armed robber targets Parker’s on Ponce days after Verizon Store robbery

Business Crime and public safety Decatur slideshow

Armed robber targets Parker’s on Ponce days after Verizon Store robbery

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Photo obtained via http://parkersonponce.com/

An armed robber attempted to take money from Parker’s on Ponce early Sunday morning.

The robbery follows an armed robbery and a previous attempted armed robbery at the Verizon store on West Ponce de Leon. Police Lt. Jennifer Ross said police do not think the incidents are related.

“The incidents at Verizon and Parker’s do not seem to be related at this time, but we will not rule anything out,” she said.

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According to Ross, “On Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at approximately 12:08 am, Officer Keck responded to an attempted armed robbery at Parker’s On Ponce in the 100 block of East Ponce de Leon Avenue. The complainant reported he was in the back office and heard a knock at the back door. He checked the peep hole and saw a male wearing a dark hooded jacket and asked who was at the door. The male responded, ‘It’s me’ and believing the male was an employee, the complainant unlocked the door. The suspect pushed the door open and pointed a handgun at the complainant, pointed toward the office and demanded to be taken to the safe. The complainant immediately grabbed the gun and a brief struggle ensued. The complainant was able to push the suspect back outside. The suspect fled on foot through the rear parking lot.”

No one was injured, Ross said.

Ross described the suspect as “a black male in his 40’s, approximately 6 feet tall and 170 lbs., wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants and a black bandanna or handkerchief covering part of his face, armed with a dark semi-automatic handgun, possibly made of plastic.”

An armed robber targeted the Verizon store on Friday evening, Dec. 22. The suspect posed as a customer.

“Employees reported a man entered the store and asked if they had phones,” Lt. Jennifer Ross said. “The employees then heard the sound of a round of ammunition being chambered into a handgun and the suspect ordered the employees to the rear of the store and stated, ‘You know what this is.’ The suspect took an undetermined amount of cell phones and left through the front door and entered a red vehicle, possibly driven by a second suspect. The suspect was described as a black male, 20-30 years old, approximately 5’9”, slender build wearing a burgundy hooded sweatshirt, skull cap, wool gloves, boots and baggy pants and armed with a handgun. No employees were harmed.”

Armed robbers attempted to enter the store on the evening of Dec. 5.

“A Verizon employee reported he was taking out the trash when he was approached from behind by two unknown men who attempted to force their way into the store,” Lt. Jennifer Ross said of the Dec. 5 incident. “The employee was able to pull the door closed and lock the door.”

Decaturish asked Ross if the police department is doing anything differently in response to the recent robberies in the city’s business district.

“We have had extra officers on duty throughout the city during the holidays, which is our regular practice,” she said. “We have had extra officers concentrating on the business districts and zone officers conducting location checks and park and walks in the business districts.”

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