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Update: Three Local Business Owners Robbed; Police Believe Victims Were Followed Home

Update (Feb. 22): Montgomery County Police are investigating three separate robberies of local business owners. Last week, authorities released details of two robberies that involved other business owners. Police are now investigating the possibility that the same suspects also committed a third robbery on Thursday night.

Detectives believe that the suspects followed the victims from their businesses to their homes before robbing them of cash in all three incidents.

On Feb. 18, shortly after 6:00 pm, officers responded to a residence in the Silver Spring area for the report of a robbery. An investigation determined that the male and female business owners left their restaurant in Hyattsville and drove to their residence in the Silver Spring area. Two suspects, described as young Hispanic males, exited a dark-colored four-door car and approached the owners as they arrived at their home, according to an MCPD press release. The suspects demanded the woman’s purse in Spanish, and one suspect displayed a knife. The press release notes that both victims speak Spanish as well. The suspects then stole the purse that contained the restaurant’s proceeds and fled in their vehicle.

The other two robberies that detectives are investigating involved business owners who both have restaurants in the Silver Spring/Takoma Park area. The victims were also followed home in similar instances before being robbed of cash.

The Department is not releasing the names of the businesses to protect the victims’ identities. Police say this remains an ongoing investigation.

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Original Post (Feb. 19): Montgomery County Police are investigating two robberies that involved business owners who both have restaurants in the Silver Spring/Takoma Park area. Detectives believe the crimes are related.

Investigators say the suspects followed the victims home before robbing them of cash.

On Jan. 7, officers responded to a robbery at a residence in the Wheaton area shortly before 11:00 p.m. Investigators learned that the female victim, an owner of a takeout restaurant in Takoma Park, arrived at her house and was approached by three black male suspects as she described them.

An MCPD press release states that one of the suspects hit the victim on the head and stole her purse, including cash and her vehicle keys. Authorities say a male witness who came to the victim’s aid was also robbed at gunpoint of his wallet before the three suspects fled in a vehicle.

On Feb. 7, shortly after 11:03 p.m., officers responded to the report of a stolen vehicle at the robbery victim’s restaurant in Takoma Park. The victim told authorities that her silver SUV, which was parked outside of her restaurant, was gone. Investigators believe that the suspects later used the vehicle keys stolen during the Jan. 7 robbery to steal the victim’s vehicle.

Days later, on Feb. 16, shortly before 9:00 p.m., officers responded to the report of a robbery on the 1800 block of Briggs Road in the Wheaton area. According to an MCPD press release, the female victim in this case was driving from her carryout restaurant in Silver Spring to her home when she was rear-ended by another vehicle.

According to police, when she got out of her vehicle to check on the other vehicle’s damage, two males, described as Hispanic, threw her to the ground. While one suspect pointed a handgun at the victim, the other suspect went into her vehicle and stole her purse which contained cash. The suspects fled in a silver SUV.

According to detectives, the next day, the stolen silver SUV from the first robbery was recovered unoccupied in the area of the second robbery.

Police also noted in a press release that both business owners are Asian. However, the victims’ ethnicity being a motive for the crime was not alluded to by authorities.

Anyone with information about these robberies is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773- 5070. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to an arrest. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online or via the P3 Tips app.

Montgomery County Police also shared some robbery prevention tips for local business owners:

  • Employees and employers should remain alert and observant.
  • Take note of suspicious persons or vehicles around the business, especially at opening and closing time.
  • Try to have at least two employees open/close the business, especially if it is dark.
  • Try to use the most visible entrance to the business and avoid back/secluded entrances when opening/closing the business.

 

 

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