Cleveland Police are asking for the public’s help to track down two suspects who robbed three restaurant’s in the city’s Collinwood neighborhood within 30 minutes.
It robberies happened on Jan. 2 between 7:30 and 8 p.m. The robbers hit Mr. Hero’s, 522 E. 152nd St., then Georgio's Pizza, 15867 Lakeshore Blvd, and then Subway, 16122 Lakeshore Blvd.
"It's definitely scary. I'm glad I have someone else with me now," said Jennifer Chandler.
Chandler was working alone at the Subway on Lakeshore when she was held-up at gunpoint Tuesday night. This was the second time she was robbed at the store in less than three weeks.
"It's definitely scary, I couldn't imagine not being here with my kids, but I just try to stay calm and just do what they ask and just hope for the best, pray," she said.
Mr. Hero’s owner Alpa Patel said it’s the second time her workers have been held at gunpoint in just a few weeks. Now she's asking for police to step up patrols in the area. She said she believes it is the same robbers both times.
Last spring, Angela Cobb was working at the Mr. Hero's on West 130th Street when a man came in and shoved a gun to her side and demanded cash. She said the terrifying moments replay in her head nearly every single day.
"So scared. I mean, take the money, fine, but you don’t know if they’re gonna shoot you," Cobb said.
The gunmen were foiled at Georgio’s Pizza because the area where employees stand is surrounded by bulletproof glass. The would-be robbers didn’t get any cash and took off. At the Subway, they made off with $40 in cash.
The Subway owner told News 5 he is hoping to install the same bulletproof glass — and install a buzzer at the front door. That location, the owner said, has been robbed three times in the last eight months.
"I can't let them stop me from making money and taking care of my family," said Chandler.
According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, juvenile crime is at an all-time high. There has been a 344 percent increase in robbery charges for juveniles since 2011. In 2016, 1,372 juveniles were charged with robbery or aggravated robbery.
