2 men 'calmly' rob metro IHOP as customers dine, police say

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — Police are in a race to find the two gunmen behind a bold theft at an IHOP. The thieves walked right past customers.

It happened Friday at the IHOP at Flat Shoals Road and Old National Highway in the city of South Fulton.

Channel 2's Rikki Klaus spoke with customers and employees of the pancake restaurant, who were scared and shocked.

Members of one family said they never expected this type of crime to happen there.

“This is our IHOP. I love some pancakes,” Rodney Dye said.

Dye said the restaurant is in a peaceful, quiet spot so what happened there Friday morning shocked him.

“I just thought, ‘Wow. Why in this neighborhood, of all neighborhoods?’” Dye said.

Around 3 a.m., police said two gunmen strolled through the popular restaurant with customers inside.

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A surveillance image shows one man on the lookout. Meanwhile, police said his gloved partner grabbed the safe.

Klaus spoke with the lead detective on the case Thursday morning.

“Both of the subjects were very calm, cool and collected when they went into the restaurant and when they were leaving,” the detective said.

The men’s demeanor concerns his colleague, Lt. Derrick Outley.

“So that’s more the scary part about it. And that’s why we really want to get this case solved and put those individuals behind bars where they belong,” Outley said.

Dye and his wife are confident investigators will find the men.

“You’re going to be punished. Believe that,” Dye said.

Police said customers and employees may be shaken, but no one was hurt.

“We want the public to help us out so we can make sure they don’t do it again,” Outley said.

Police want to find out whether the men have done this before. Officers are urging the public to call them if anyone recognizes the men or has any information that could help the case.

Cox Media Group