LOCAL LAW GRAPPLES WITH SERIES OF ROBBERIES

This summer, especially this month, robberies have increased in a few Southeast Missouri cities, police said.

Male suspects with knives, guns and quickness have robbed six Cape Girardeau businesses this month. Two additional robberies occurred, one outside a gas station and another at a residence.

In Sikeston, Mo., three businesses have been held up by gunmen. And Jackson, Mo., which police say experiences about six robberies a year, had one holdup at a gas station.

However, Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel said these robberies should not be perceived as a widespread public threat.

"We are not seeing the same perpetrators committing the crimes," Hetzel said. "And we are not seeing an inherent intent to harm."

The most recent armed robbery occurred early Saturday morning at Fazoli's restaurant at 5 S. Kingshighway.

At 1:20 a.m., the manager had opened a side door to allow an employee out when a man dressed all in black, wearing a ski mask, forced his way inside, Cpl. Kevin Orr said. Holding a black, small caliber revolver, the robber ordered three employees into the walk-in freezer while having a fourth open the safe. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The most recent robbery not involving a weapon occurred Monday afternoon at Semo Gas at 40 N. Sprigg St.

About 3:45 p.m., a man in his early 20s wearing a white T-shirt and shorts attempted to walk out of the store concealing a wine bottle, police said. The manager stopped him, and they struggled. The robber took the bottle and struck the manager, and was able to run away. The manager was not injured, police said.

Of the seven armed robberies investigated by Cape Girardeau police, three have been solved so far, Hetzel said. They were a robbery with a knife at a residence on Aug. 7, a robbery involving kidnapping from Don's Store 24 at 341 S. Sprigg St. on Aug. 22, and a robbery using a knife at Rhodes 101 Stop at 407 Morgan Oak last Thursday.

The most prominent unsolved robbery, involving an unarmed man at the Bank of America branch at 800 N. Kingshighway, is still being investigated by police and the FBI.

Police have been looking at possible links between three Sikeston robberies, Orr said.

Sikeston police believe they will have arrests in their three robberies by today, Sgt. Susan Rockett said. In Sikeston, a Hardee's restaurant was robbed Aug. 20, a Pit Stop convenience store on Aug. 22, and a Wendy's restaurant on Aug. 24.

In Jackson, Mo., police Chief Marvin Sides said several leads have been pursued in the June 27 robbery of the Texaco convenience store at 304 E. Jackson Blvd. But so far, they have all lead nowhere, Sides said.

Cape Girardeau police have a high percentage of solved robberies, most of which result in arrests within six months to a year, Hetzel said.

Businesses can take several steps to make themselves less appealing to robbers, Hetzel said.

Any store that operates 24 hours will have a higher risk, and should train their employees how to respond during a robbery, the chief said.

"Employees at a robbery are some of the best witnesses we have, especially if they know what to do," he said.

Signs in windows or stacks of goods around cash registers that block the view of passers-by create problems.

"An open, well-lit work environment is the robber's worst nightmare," Hetzel said.

A seemingly obvious factor that is sometimes missed is care of a store's surveillance equipment, Hetzel said. Managers should check regularly that their video cameras are operational, he said.

Pizza Pro at 545 S. Silver Springs Rd. has been robbed by gunmen twice in a year's time. As a precaution, managers are locking the doors earlier, said Cherri Pierce, an owner.

"We work in a real dark neighborhood," Pierce said. "So about a quarter until 8, we just lock the doors now."