Police investigate theft, armed robberies

~ Cape Girardeau police think Monday's incidents are related.

Cape Girardeau police are investigating an armed robbery and a theft that occurred Monday at two downtown restaurants and an armed robbery nearby last weekend.

Cape Girardeau police Cpl. Jason Selzer said Tuesday police have no leads or suspects at this time in any of the incidents.

Monday night, a man robbed the Port Cape Girardeau restaurant at gunpoint and another man emptied the tip jar at the Cup 'N' Cork coffee shop before fleeing, police said.

Beth Shock, an employee for seven months at Port Cape Girardeau, 19 N. Water St., said Monday after the incident that at about 8 p.m. she was alone in the front of the restaurant by the cash register counting her tips when two men barged through the door.

One pointed a gun at her while the other stood in the background, she said. "He busted through the door screaming to give him the money. I just threw it on the counter and stepped back, saying, 'Please, don't.'"

Shock said after throwing down the cash, she put her arms up and backed away. The man reportedly grabbed the money and cash from the register and fled with the other man who had remained just outside the door.

"I was shaking afterwards, and I went into the back and told everyone I'd been robbed and to call 911," Shock said.

After tallying the night's receipts another employee told police about $150 had been taken.

Owner Dennis "Doc" Cain said the restaurant has never been robbed before.

Tip jar emptied

At about that same time a hooded man entered the Cup 'N' Cork, 46 N. Main St., asking an employee behind the counter for a glass of water, said owner Barry Robinson. "When she turned her back, he took the money out of the tip jar and ran out," he said.

Robinson said when she looked out the window she saw four men running away. Robinson said about $10 was in the tip jar.

Two men reported to police Saturday night that approximately six men followed them from the 700 block to the 300 block of Broadway at about 11:47 p.m., Selzer said Tuesday.

One of the men, wearing a black baseball cap with a gold emblem, pointed a small, silver-colored handgun at the two men and demanded their cell phones and wallets, Selzer said.

When one of the victims started to turn away the suspect fired the gun into the street, Selzer said.

At that point one of the victims gave the suspect his cell phone and cash, and the men fled without taking the items from the other victim, Selzer said.

The victims told police two of the men got into a car while the others took off on foot on Lorimier Street, Selzer said.

Police found a small shell casing in the street, Selzer said.

Police think the robbery and theft on Monday are related but do not think there is a connection between the incidents and the robbery Saturday.

"There's nothing to indicate that," he said.

carel@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127