A Sept. 23 robbery at an apartment complex in Fayetteville has Fayetteville police considering that it might be connected to two other recent robberies in the city.
The most recent robbery occurred on Sept. 23 at midnight at the Weatherly Walk Apartments off Ga. Highway 54 East.
Department spokesman Mike Whitlow said two men wearing ski masks and carrying handguns kicked in the door, forced residents into a bathroom then stole cash from the apartment.
One of the residents had just returned home from closing his restaurant in Clayton County, Whitlow said.
Fayetteville detectives are investigating two other robberies of city residents who own restaurants or other businesses outside Fayetteville.
A College Park convenience store owner on Aug. 4 was approached at gunpoint by a black male in the parking lot of the Kroger grocery store on South Glynn Street as the store owner was walking through the parking lot. The man was told “give me the store’s money,” Whitlow said.
On May 28 the owner of a restaurant in College Park was followed to his Fayetteville home where a crew of four black males rushed him in the garage, Whitlow said. The victim was able to get inside the house, lock the doors and call police before the four men could make entry, said Whitlow.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents is encouraged to contact the Fayetteville Police Department at 770-461-4441.
Whitlow said there have also been several of these type robberies around the metropolitan Atlanta area and police are warning restaurant/store owners and workers to be vigilant, offering the following tips:
1) Be alert for someone watching as you leave work and possibly following you.
2) Vary your route to and from work as well as the times you make bank deposits.
3) Never carry large amounts of cash or deposits from work when you are alone.
4) If you feel you are being followed, call 911 and drive to the nearest police department or sheriff’s office.
5) Maintain good, functional video surveillance systems at your business.
