Police: Serial robber terrorizes area stores, coffee stands
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BOTHELL, Wash. - Police believe the same man has been terrorizing store clerks throughout King and Snohomish counties, targeting Subway sandwich shops, coffee stands and convenience stores.
On Saturday, police say the man committed three robberies in less than an hour. The first one happened at BigFoot Java expresso stand in Bothell.
Diana Douay, who works there, says it was her co-worker who confronted the robber. When the barista didn't open the window, that's when the robber began banging on it with his gun, demanding cash.
"A guy approached her on that side over there and put the gun on the counter," says Douay. "It's put me on edge a little bit."
From there, police say, the man went to a Subway restaurant in Lake Forest Park. He wore a mask and showed a gun - then took off with cash.
A short time later he hit another Subway - this time in Shoreline.
"He lays a gun on the counter and says, 'Give me the register.' ... I didn't believe it," says victim Paul Beatty.
The entire robbery happened in less than a minute. It even went unnoticed by a woman and her children who were sitting at a table in the corner.
"He tried to keep it quiet - like he was trying to not alert too many people. You could tell by the way he was doing it," Beatty says.
The robber cleared the till and took off.
Police believe the man is connected to a string of similar robberies. They've linked him to at least 18 crimes in Kirkland, Everett, Renton and Mountlake Terrace, among others.
He often wears a hoodie with a handkerchief or mask over his face while demanding cash from the victims.
"It's a lot of adrenaline - like at first it's not even fear or anything. You just get this overwhelming need to get this guy out of the store. Get him in and get him out," says Beatty.
Police say someone was waiting in a car for the suspect during the robberies, but at this time they do not have a description of the vehicle.
On Saturday, police say the man committed three robberies in less than an hour. The first one happened at BigFoot Java expresso stand in Bothell.
Diana Douay, who works there, says it was her co-worker who confronted the robber. When the barista didn't open the window, that's when the robber began banging on it with his gun, demanding cash.
"A guy approached her on that side over there and put the gun on the counter," says Douay. "It's put me on edge a little bit."
From there, police say, the man went to a Subway restaurant in Lake Forest Park. He wore a mask and showed a gun - then took off with cash.
A short time later he hit another Subway - this time in Shoreline.
"He lays a gun on the counter and says, 'Give me the register.' ... I didn't believe it," says victim Paul Beatty.
The entire robbery happened in less than a minute. It even went unnoticed by a woman and her children who were sitting at a table in the corner.
"He tried to keep it quiet - like he was trying to not alert too many people. You could tell by the way he was doing it," Beatty says.
The robber cleared the till and took off.
Police believe the man is connected to a string of similar robberies. They've linked him to at least 18 crimes in Kirkland, Everett, Renton and Mountlake Terrace, among others.
He often wears a hoodie with a handkerchief or mask over his face while demanding cash from the victims.
"It's a lot of adrenaline - like at first it's not even fear or anything. You just get this overwhelming need to get this guy out of the store. Get him in and get him out," says Beatty.
Police say someone was waiting in a car for the suspect during the robberies, but at this time they do not have a description of the vehicle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRGEq-NbJ68
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WOW, please go see this subway challenge. Â It completely measures out and states that the subway is 12 inches..
VERY FUNNY!!! you will have a good laugh.
right on.
I just saw a 40 -50 year old with a 30 year old and a photo copy of a marriage license. Kinda like that chick in Portland with the Tiger Army jacket huggin TONYS toilet at the Karfoury, shes probably the same way.
Anyway, TYSON, BRIAN, JIM...I could see them doin it. Not oscxar or kelly. wait til I show up, and it won't be in February.
Really? The lady didn't notice!? How do you now know someone is being robbed feet from you :-/ I always keep myself protected just in case http://www.airsplat.com/Items/AP-UKAMS-M777S.htm
i wish it ended like this
http://youtu.be/mw6RrmQeToA
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@Chloe Fish Spam. You have been reported.
None of these stores have outdoor cameras?
Hellooo...He lays his gun on the counter and demands money? How about you pick the damn gun up and tell him to get the phuc out!
 @Abouthadit! He could easy pick it back up and shoot you. No one take this person's advice, it will probably get you killed!Â
 @Abouthadit! I am assuming he still has his hand on the gun when he does it.
Of course, internet tough guy! easier said than done. try that in a clumsy way, with your shaking hand,  frightened in the real situation. before you grab the gun, you would have several bullet holes in your chest.Â
Hmm . . . he puts the gun on the counter. Maybe they should offer the perp a cup of hot coffee along with the cash, right on the gun hand. Seems the reflex would be to pull the hand away and shake off the hot liquid; very well leaving the weapon behind on the counter. Follow it up with a cup to the face; probably catch them at a nearby hospital with severe burns.
ThinkN_Do : Had they tried that Jackie Chan stuff, we would have been reading about their stupid deaths most likely. Muhahahahahahaha.  Still the golden rule about these situations is to cooperate and DO NOT PROVOKE.
 @Special Force Probably what will  happen, the low-life will end up dead by some business owner who packs a weapon under the counter.
@Special Force Someone doesn't under the old action is quicker tha reaction thing. Bad guy has the advatage.
@ SPECIAL FORCE - I agree, brother.  I'm for guns too, but they better do some strict IQ tests on them before giving them permits.Â
 I'm very pro-gun. But some of the moronic gun owners like these give all the other gun owners bad names...
Abouthadit : Okay, genius. I'll place the gun between the counter and my hand, pointing toward you - if not at you (LOL!). You quickly duck and reach for your weapon under the counter. I'll bet you. I'll end you the moment you make that stupid sudden move, genius.
@Special Force He didn't have the gun pointed at them. He laid the gun on the counter. Seriously, he laid the gun on the counter? Really?
ThinkN_Do : Remember, the robber is already pointing his gun at the victim.  I wouldn't recommend that, even if there was a loaded gun under the counter.Â
Oh goodness people, for all of you that want to make your point about guns  it's getting soooo old.Â
Don't you all know that these crimes only happen because this is a expensive state to live in and if we had a break with taxes, people would not use a gun to rob a subway to pay their rent. ;)
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The Founding Fathers realized that times would one day would get tough, and the citizenry would have to support themselves with armed robbery. This man is only exercising free speech and his 2ns Amendment rights.
Can you not misquote the founding Fathers?
 @Vince KOMO_Sapiens is auditioning for the role of house troll. Just ignore.
Quick, ban guns so only people like this robber have them...
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Yeah, hopefully you libtards out there are paying attention.Â
 @NWCoin You seem to believe that criminals all have some magical power to obtain guns. It takes more than a willingness to break the law; it requires opportunity. Why shouldn't we reduce the opportunity with common-sense gun laws (like universal background checks)?
 @NWCoin Don't confuse them with facts. They can't process facts.
Clearly the solution is a pistol should be included free with every Subway sandwich, no background check required
It's not a good time to own or work at these kinds of small retail businesses. It might be quite stressful and terrifying... Before the economic collapse, there had been more customers in the premises. But now, they have to deal with lack of customers, lower profit margins, more taxes to to the governments, and growing numbers of armed robbery.Â
Using a gun in a crime, life in prison. Â Get tough on guns and this garbage will stop. Â (Well, unless you make prison like club med) Â Put 4 prisoners in a small cell and start stuffing them in there, make prison unbearable. Â
 @SureHandz I think we should follow suit with Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Put them prison in the middle of the desert. Let them live in tents.
 @slappywag  @SureHandz Agreed. However, this is Washington. If we did that here, it would hurt someone's feelings. Someone would be allergic to the bologna sandwiches Sheriff Joe serves, and the state would be sued because some inmate got a state paid lawyer to sue because "being a guy, and having to wear pink" was cruel and unusual punishment. Yea.......that's the state we live in.
 @Harley-H.S.C.  Yup.... but sadly.... I bet they would go for it for people that are convicted of animal cruelty.
 We have a basic right to protect our own life and the life of our loved ones.
Why don't these fools hold up bars? They surely have more money and definitely no one is packing a side arm inside a bar because it is against the law.
 @Rockberry Great idea! Walk into an establishment where a ton of people are hammered, and half of them don't care about anything anyhow. Sounds like a recipe for a serious smackdown to me.
@Rockberry Because bars aren't as easy a target as a Subway (which usually only has 1 or 2 employees on shift and rarely no eat-in customers) or a coffee stand that makes for an easy getaway. Plus most bars I know of are full of people you don't want to mess with.
@Rockberry good idea....you first....;-)
Time for some entrapment. Â What if someone gave the robber a bag of money with a tracking device in it? Â It is time that this thief is arrested and convicted, so that he can become cellmates with Maxine Dare.
Seems like an odd combination of communities (Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Kirkland, Everett, Renton and Mountlake Terrace),for a crime spree. 18 capers and no physical or vehicle description yet.
A tweaker feeding his habit.. As dangerous as they come...
Public hanging needed if this robber is caught....why not !?
@scychan Or just cut off his hands.
 @Tattooed_Angel  @scychan Call him "Stumpy" for short.
One armed clerk can end this little crime spree, and I hope it happens. Word to the clerk though, make sure you kill him. Don't just wound him, kill him, or he'll come back and sue you, and in this day and age, probably win.
 @Harley-H.S.C. Come on keyboard tough guy. proposing to take a life is a serious matter not some shoot em up video game.
 @Harrison  @Harley-H.S.C. Harrison, I agree that it is a serious matter, but by pulling a gun, isn't the robber proposing to take YOUR life? I hope I never have to make that decision, and I would probably just give him the money because of the innocent bystanders, but you have to be able to defend yourself. (I don't currently own a pistol but if I was a store clerk I might reconsider)
 @Harrison Harrison? If someone is stupid enough to point a gun at me, they get what they deserve. Self defense and self preservation are my rights as an American citizen. Now, were he to walk up with a note, or imply he had a weapon, it would be a different story. Point a gun at me, and that shotgun under the counter might "accidentally" go off.
 @Harrison I don't know you, and you don't know me or what I've been though in my life. There are help groups for people like you with "superiority complex." Please check into it before making a fool of yourself any further? Help is only a phone call away.
@Julia @Harley-H.S.C. I wouldn't feel bad for taking someone's life if they threatened to take my life. Why should I?
 @Harley-H.S.C. I think what Harrison is saying is that we all hope you'd feel bad about taking someone's life even if it was self-defense. Because if you didn't that would make you a pretty scary psychopath.
 @Harley-H.S.C. OK tough Guy
 @Harley-H.S.C. If the gun is lying on the counter though the self-defense plea will not hold up in court. Unless the gun is pointed directly at the clerk (under our state law - each state has a different law regarding use of deadly force) there may be question of "intent". And the robber may actually know that which is why he isn't actually pointing the gun at the clerk. It's a stupid loophole but it is a loophole. Plus, would you want to be the one who has to live the rest of your life knowing you killed someone over the cash in your register? I wouldn't. It's extraordinarily traumatic to kill someone even in self-defense and I'm not sure the cash in a register is worse ruining a clerk's life over.
 @Julia  @Harley-H.S.C. How about we catch him first and worry about all this later. ThanksÂ
Julia...OMG So what you are saying is, that if, say there were a group of 5 employees, including yourself, being robbed at gun point and you had a conceled pistol, your saying you could not shoot the robber until the gun is pointed at you? Beg to differ.
 @h20dad I would shoot the robber as soon as the gun was pointed at anyone. I would not shoot the robber while the gun was lying on the counter. I would rather not have someone's death hanging over my head and possibly get ruled on manslaughter over a gun on the counter. A gun in his hand and definitely pointed at anyone would be a different story. Why is that so hard for people to get? This is why folks need more education on guns besides just watching crime shows on tv.
 @Julia  @Harley-H.S.C. The R.C.W. states; "No person in the state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting by any reasonable means necessary, himself or herself, his or her family, or his or her real or personal property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of or the victim of assault, robbery, kidnapping, arson, burglary, rape, murder, or any other violent crime as defined in RCW 9.94A.030"
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I would say the gun on the counter constitutes "imminent danger". I think people need to worry less about getting sued or feeling bad, this is a life or death situation.Â
 @Julia  @Harley-H.S.C. It's not over the cash in the register; it's about defending yourself against attackers, and keeping sorry little POS like this from escalating the violence and brazenness before someone innocent does get killed.Â
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If everyone whom this scum piles tried to crap on simply tilted their faces up to give a better angle, there would be at least three or four robberies every 10 minutes.Â
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It would become a routine way to fund one's evening plans to swing through and rob a half-dozen locations, and there would be so many out there it would be essentially decriminalized, like auto theft has.Â
 @Julia  @Harley-H.S.C. Are you kidding me!!! Him pulling out the gun clearly states his intent. Plus the clerk is in a place where he rightfully belongs. In this case the castle law should apply.
 @Harley-H.S.C.  @NickM1979  @Julia Yup. I really wish we would adopt it here. We are a "hold your ground" state, however. I don't have to run away and I can use deadly force to protect myself if my life is in danger.
 @rainwoman If the perp show intent, ability and opportunity to hurt you then you can kill him and be safe under WA State law, but if the perp has intent to steal your money and it can't be proven that his intent was to hurt you then you could be charged with manslaughter. In this case the gun lying on the counter was obviously there as an intimidation, but the intent was to steal money.  That's why it's a slippery slope - will the jury rule that he had intent because he possessed a gun or will they rule that his intent was for money not to harm the clerk? And remember, juries can't just decide for themselves, they have to interpret the exact detail of the law - it's really not up to them as individuals to decide so hoping for a "he was a jerk and deserved to die" verdict will not happen.
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@Harley-H.S.C. @NickM1979 @Julia What are we supposed to do if some idiot breaks into our house and tries to hurt us then?Â
 @NickM1979  @Julia Unfortunately, "The Castle Doctrine" doesn't apply in Washington State. Too many people out there fighting for the rights of the criminals over the victims for us to be allowed such a useful tool.
Nope, wouldn't hold up. The perp has presented the firearm and made the implicit threat. He has shown the will and the means to cause harm. He's a slam dunk.
 @Harley-H.S.C. Bravo. Well said.
@James127 @Harley-H.S.C. well unfortunately, if you kill him, his family that did not give a rats @$$ about him will sue you for killing their valued family member.....darned if you do, darned if you do another way...
 @rainwoman  @James127 Counter-sue for causing emotional distress and bringing up a family member that intended harm on you.