Police: Recent robberies not a trend

Police don't think a recent string of armed robberies in Cape Girardeau signal an increasing trend.

What is unusual is the proximity of some of the incidents, said Cape Girardeau police Cpl. Jason Selzer. So far this year, there have been four armed robberies, three at local businesses.

Two men robbed the Port Cape Girardeau restaurant at gunpoint Jan. 19. Police believe the incident may be connected with a theft at Cup 'N' Cork the same day.

On Jan. 12, two men were reportedly held at gunpoint in the 300 block of Broadway by one man who demanded cash and cell phones, police said. According to police, the suspect was with five other men who followed the victims for several blocks before making their move.

"To have them occur that close together is unusual," Selzer said.

Selzer said there were 12 armed robberies in 2005 and 19 in 2006. "If this trend continued, we would have a huge amount of increase in armed robberies," in 2007, he said.

Selzer said police have no suspects or leads at this time. He doesn't think the recent incidents are part of an increasing trend.

"I don't think we're out of line with the amount of robberies that we've had," Selzer said. "We've just had several high-profile ones in the last part of the year and early this year."

In 2005 seven incidents involved a business and five involved individuals. In 2006, there were six business armed robberies and 13 individual armed robberies, he said.

One of the 2006 and two of the 2007 business armed robberies were related, Selzer said.

Gregory Williams, 32, of 321 Albert St. was arrested and charged with felony robbery following robberies at the Payless Shoe Source in February, the Dollar General Store in January and Sally Beauty Supply in December. Williams allegedly used a gun or weapon against store employees, binding them and stealing cash before fleeing.

Patricia A. Sutton, 42, of 925 William St. is accused of conspiring with Williams to rob the Dollar General Store. Sutton was an employee of the store.

carel@semissourian.com

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