Serial Armed Robberies In St. Paul

WCCO News reports a string of St. Paul armed robberies thought to be related: "Police: Armed Robbers Targeting St. Paul Bars".

(WCCO) St. Paul Five St. Paul bars, including the Trend Bar on University Avenue, have been robbed at gunpoint in the past month, and police believe the crimes may be related.

The suspects generally enter bars around closing time. They wear hoods, order patrons and bar staff to the ground and demand money, police said.

"Two guys came in with guns and proceeded to push us to the ground," one bar owner recalled. "Then they forced me behind the bar to give them the cash."

The man did not want his name or his bar's name disclosed, fearing the suspects would come back.

"They said they were going to kill me," the man said. "Pointed a gun to my head and said they were going to kill me, and (told me to) give them all the money."

These are very bad men and need to be stopped forthwith. Their pattern exemplifies the increase in very bold armed robberies across the metro area, particularly in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In short, they are a murder waiting to happen.

The cops agree:

"They're very brazen," St. Paul Police Officer Pete Crum said. "They come in with guns, take the bar over, take the money and leave. Luckily, at this point, no one's been seriously injured."

It's troubling that there are two of them, first of all because there exists the possibility of one or more others waiting outside as lookouts or "wheelmen", but also because it's easier to deal with a single meth-addled freak than it is a group of men soberly bent on violence.

The man said his bar has been robbed three times in the last four years. "We're going to try it for another year and see how it goes," he said.

Police are seeking three suspects in connection with these robberies. Anyone with information helpful to the investigation is asked to call the St. Paul Police Department.

Robbed three times in the last four years - It's a wonder how these people manage to stay in business.

And finally, you'll note that the police are actually looking for three suspects, which tells me there might even be more out there.

Let's get these rats before they hurt someone.