MASKED MAN ROBS CAPE RESTAURANT

A fast-food restaurant was robbed about a half hour before closing Wednesday by a man who threatened the restaurant manager with a handgun, Cape Girardeau police said.

About 8:27 p.m. an armed robbery occurred at Blimpie Subs & Salads, 3036 William St.

The store manager, who was in the restaurant with one employee, told police that the masked robber entered the store through a rear door that leads to an alley behind the building.

After threatening the manager with a chrome-plated, semi-automatic pistol, he ordered him to go to the cash register. After he was handed the store's cashbox, he told the manager to turn his back to him. The robber left through the rear door.

No threats were made to the second employee, who was standing at the back of the store. No injuries were reported.

Police found a number of footprints in mud on an embankment behind the building, but it was impossible to determine whether any belonged to the robber, police Sgt. Kevin Orr said.

The embankment leads up to Gordonville Road and St. Francis Medical Center. Police interviewed a person they considered a suspect at the hospital, but no one was taken into custody, Orr said.

Wednesday's robbery was the first armed robbery in Cape Girardeau in several months after a series of robberies between July and September. During that time, more than 20 robberies were reported.

The last armed robbery in Cape Girardeau occurred at another fast-food restaurant. Fazoli's at 5 S. Kingshighway was held up by a gunman as employees were leaving on Aug. 26.