None — A Waffle House restaurant in Marietta was hit by an armed robber Thursday morning.
Another Waffle House Hit With Armed Robbery
The robbery, at the breakfast diner on Powers Ferry and Delk roads, came amid an investigation of 17 Waffle House robberies in two weeks. Two men have struck locations in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry and Clayton counties along with the cities of Doraville and Norcross, police said. Police also believe the robberies stretch as far as Auburn, Ala. to LaGrange, Ga.
It is unclear if the latest hit is connected to the others, but they share similarities.
In all cases the restaurants have been robbed overnight, between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Thursday’s robbery happened around 5:50 a.m. Police said the robber ordered food, ate and paid for his meal, and pointed a gun at the cashier before fleeing on foot with stolen money.
Norcross police said in many of the previous cases, the suspects parked across the street and walked to the Waffle Houses, hiding their car from security. Surveillance video shows they don’t do much to cover up their faces other than wearing baseball caps and sunglasses.
Investigators said the incidents aren't typical armed robberies. The men spend several minutes inside the restaurants, even ordering take-out.
Surveillance video from the Norcross Waffle House on Brook Hollow Parkway captured two men calmly approaching the cashier to pay for their order.
“They're very patient. They have no inhibitions about staying for a long period of time. In this case, they placed a to-go order and waited for it,” Norcross Police Sgt. Bill Grogan told Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh.
But things quickly changed. As soon as the cashier opened the register, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and cleaned it out.
"They're very comfortable at this. It's obvious it's not the first time that they have done it.” Grogan said.
"This has been very quick,” said Detective Jennifer Miller with DeKalb County Police.
Miller told Kavanaugh in the DeKalb investigations, there's one suspect but the same routine. The man places an order for food and waits for the cashier. But, they said the thieves are becoming more brazen, striking twice in one night.
On Monday, Miller said someone robbed the Waffle House on Lawrenceville Highway and within hours hit the one on Chamblee-Tucker Road.
Norcross police said Thursday there has also been a robbery at a Waffle House in Atlanta.
"The fear is that he's going to become increasingly violent,” Miller said.
Police are asking anyone who recognizes either of the two men or knows anything about the robberies to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Waffle House is offering up to $2500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers.
WSBTV
