Gun-Wielding Clowns Rob Everett Doughnut Shop

Gun-Wielding Clowns Rob Everett Doughnut Shop

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Story Published: Oct 20, 2005 at 12:01 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:06 AM PDT

By April Zepeda

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EVERETT - Think of clowns, and birthday parties or circus rings may come to mind -- not gun-wielding robbers.

But that was the case in Everett Wednesday morning when two armed clowns hit a doughnut shop.

In full clown make up with red noses, two men walked into Henry's Donut Shop and locked the door.

The owner was alone, her husband on his way.

"He took the gun and told me, 'not to move.' He wanted money," said husband Be Le, who also sells Vietnamese sandwiches at the shop.

Le's wife showed the clowns the cash register, but they had something else in mind.

"He didn't want it. He wanted money inside," said Le gesturing toward the back of the shop.

The clowns forced Le's wife to open the safe in the back room. They got away with $300-$400 before running out the back door.

Obviously the description of white faces, red noses and wide grins is no help to police. That's what worries regular customers.

"I'd hate for something like this to happen to them again, because I know it's a family-owned business and you have to be sympathetic to that," said customer Sue Jon. "This is their livelihood."

Neighboring businesses are now taking extra precautions.

"Like this morning I was alone, I didn't unlock the door until 10," said hair salon owner Kathy Little. "I just kept my eye out for customers."

Some wonder if the doughnut shop became a target because it takes 'cash only.' Others think the upcoming holiday made it an easy robbery.

"Yeah, apparently because it's Halloween coming around, but it's not funny at all," said dry cleaning manager, Elizabeth Bela.

Especially true, since business at the doughnut shop has been slow and profits are down - making this robbery nothing to clown around about.

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