SEATTLE -
UPDATE:
Two men robbing restaurants by pretending to be police have hit again--this time raping an employee who couldn't open the restaurant door.
Investigators say the men stop fast food workers by flashing what appear to be police lights.
The men then force the workers at gunpoint to go back to the restaurant and clean out the safe.
But the tactic took an even more serious turn this weekend when the men stopped a Lakewood Wendy's worker and she didn't have a key to get them back inside the restaurant.
Police say the men handcuffed her boyfriend and put him in the trunk, then raped the woman.
Investigators say this takes the crimes to another level.
"Robbery was already serious enough by itself, but now they've escalated this by sexually assaulting one of the victims and assaulting a second victim, so they've taken it up another notch, so we're anxious to get these guys off the street," says Mark Fulghum, Spokesman for the Tacoma Police Department.
If you have any information that can help catch these guys--call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Meantime, police say if you see police lights behind you and you're not sure it's a police officer, call 9-1-1 and the operator can confirm if it's a real traffic stop
++++Previous Story+++
The Pierce County Sheriff's Dept., Lakewood Police, and Tacoma Police are asking for help finding two suspects who they say are posing as police officers to kidnap and rob fast food restaurant managers.
In three different incidents, restaurant managers have been pulled over by a vehicle with red and blue flashing lights shortly after closing and leaving their restaurant. Two suspects wearing bandanas over their faces approach the victim's vehicle, display guns, and handcuff the victim. One suspect drives the victim back to the restaurant, then at gunpoint forces the victim to unlock the doors, open the safe and give them cash.
Pierce County Sheriff's Department Detective Sergeant Jerry Bates said the trend has them concerned "they're using police tactics and they're pretty brazen, something could easily go wrong in these types of situations." Bates said it's obvious there is planning involved with these crimes.
Many people who work in the area around the restaurants say they've been warned. "It's a little scary that they might try and pull you over and they're not actual cops" Danny Knox said. Police say if you notice red lights in your rearview mirror and you're not sure if it's a police officer, call 911 and have the operator confirm it's legitimate.
The kidnapping/robberies occurred: - Sunday October 25, 2009, 2:30 a.m., Burger King on Mountain Highway in Graham - Monday October 5, 2009, 12:40 a.m., McDonalds on Steilacoom Blvd. in Lakewood
The thieves also pulled over the manager of a Wendy's on Friday October 23, at 3:15 a.m. But after they got her out of her car, investigators say the woman ran away before the suspects could take her back to the restaurant.
The suspect's vehicles are described as a dark newer SUV and an older black Honda with tinted windows. Both had red and blue lights on the dashboard, similar to the kind undercover officers' use. Both suspects are described as white males, 20-25 years old, 5'8", with a thin build.
During the kidnapping/robberies, the suspects have been wearing dark hooded sweatshirts, dark hats, bandanas, and gloves, and have been armed with handguns.
*******CRIME STOPPERS REWARD Receive up to $1000 dollars for information leading to the arrest and charges filed for the person in this case. Call 253-591-5959, Callers will remain anonymous
Investigators say the men stop fast food workers by flashing what appear to be police lights.
The men then force the workers at gunpoint to go back to the restaurant and clean out the safe.
But the tactic took an even more serious turn this weekend when the men stopped a Lakewood Wendy's worker and she didn't have a key to get them back inside the restaurant.
Police say the men handcuffed her boyfriend and put him in the trunk, then raped the woman.
Investigators say this takes the crimes to another level.
"Robbery was already serious enough by itself, but now they've escalated this by sexually assaulting one of the victims and assaulting a second victim, so they've taken it up another notch, so we're anxious to get these guys off the street," says Mark Fulghum, Spokesman for the Tacoma Police Department.
If you have any information that can help catch these guys--call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Meantime, police say if you see police lights behind you and you're not sure it's a police officer, call 9-1-1 and the operator can confirm if it's a real traffic stop
++++Previous Story+++
The Pierce County Sheriff's Dept., Lakewood Police, and Tacoma Police are asking for help finding two suspects who they say are posing as police officers to kidnap and rob fast food restaurant managers.
In three different incidents, restaurant managers have been pulled over by a vehicle with red and blue flashing lights shortly after closing and leaving their restaurant. Two suspects wearing bandanas over their faces approach the victim's vehicle, display guns, and handcuff the victim. One suspect drives the victim back to the restaurant, then at gunpoint forces the victim to unlock the doors, open the safe and give them cash.
Pierce County Sheriff's Department Detective Sergeant Jerry Bates said the trend has them concerned "they're using police tactics and they're pretty brazen, something could easily go wrong in these types of situations." Bates said it's obvious there is planning involved with these crimes.
Many people who work in the area around the restaurants say they've been warned. "It's a little scary that they might try and pull you over and they're not actual cops" Danny Knox said. Police say if you notice red lights in your rearview mirror and you're not sure if it's a police officer, call 911 and have the operator confirm it's legitimate.
The kidnapping/robberies occurred: - Sunday October 25, 2009, 2:30 a.m., Burger King on Mountain Highway in Graham - Monday October 5, 2009, 12:40 a.m., McDonalds on Steilacoom Blvd. in Lakewood
The thieves also pulled over the manager of a Wendy's on Friday October 23, at 3:15 a.m. But after they got her out of her car, investigators say the woman ran away before the suspects could take her back to the restaurant.
The suspect's vehicles are described as a dark newer SUV and an older black Honda with tinted windows. Both had red and blue lights on the dashboard, similar to the kind undercover officers' use. Both suspects are described as white males, 20-25 years old, 5'8", with a thin build.
During the kidnapping/robberies, the suspects have been wearing dark hooded sweatshirts, dark hats, bandanas, and gloves, and have been armed with handguns.
*******CRIME STOPPERS REWARD Receive up to $1000 dollars for information leading to the arrest and charges filed for the person in this case. Call 253-591-5959, Callers will remain anonymous
