Denver Business Owner: Robberies 'Getting A Lot More Brazen'
DENVER (CBS4) - After a series of armed robberies, shop owners in Denver have had enough.
"They're getting a lot more brazen. They're coming in straight with guns," said business owner Arvino Singh.
In the past three weeks, at least four businesses have been hit within a 5-mile radius of 6th Avenue and York Street, including a Conoco station Tuesday night.
Surveillance video from last week shows two armed men wearing surgical masks barging into the 7-Eleven on 6th and Josephine. After forcing the clerk to empty the cash register, the men panic. One man fires at the window then jumps through, severely cutting himself as his partner follows behind.
"It's scary as a business owner and as a resident," said Singh.
In each case two black males wearing masks robbed the store at gunpoint.
Singh recently had his store robbed. He says he understands that crime often comes to growing areas, but something has to be done.
"We pay a lot of money in taxes to live in Cherry Creek. We deserve to feel safe," he said.
Singh says with the criminals still on the loose, adding police officers to the area is the only solution.
"Increase the patrolling of police officers. Public safety should never be number two."
Denver Police Officer Mary McIver says despite the similarities in the cases, it's too early for detectives to say if the cases are connected.
"We are not ready to say they are linked," McIver said.
McIver also says DPD is doing the best it can in allocating patrol officers across the city.
Additional Information From The Denver Police Department
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. Call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomCBS4.