Three armed business robberies over the past week have led St. Charles Parish sheriff’s officials to increase their presence in the Destrehan area and warn residents to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
The first armed robbery occurred on Jan. 15 at Uniforms by Kajun on River Road. In that robbery, an unknown black male entered the store at 10:10 a.m., and then used a knife to force a female employee to give up money from the store’s safe. The robber, who was wearing tan pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, flip flops and sunglasses, then fled the scene with the money and the clerk’s cell phone.
Two days later, another River Road business was host to a similar crime.
A Kenner woman and a Metairie man were robbed at gunpoint at 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 17 while working at Express Cleaners. The robber, who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants, and was estimated to be between 20 and 25 years of age, pointed a handgun at the two employees and demanded they give up money. The suspect then made the male victim lie on the floor while the female victim was told to gather up the money. The suspect soon fled the scene.
In both cases, the robber was described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing anywhere from 140 to 150 pounds.
After leaving Express Cleaners, the robber was seen getting into a red Dodge Charger with tinted windows at the Krystal Klear Car Wash on Longview Dr.
Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said it’s still too early to tell whether both crimes are related.
That evening, a third armed robbery took place at Video Traques, a rental store on Ormond Blvd. This time, two black males entered the store at 9:36 p.m., with one of the men pointing a handgun at the store’s female employee. The employee complied with the robber’s request for money and was tied up by the men afterward. The victim was able to free herself and contact the sheriff’s office. LaGrange said that one of the two robbers was described as being between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet. He weighed between 175 to 180 pounds. The second robber was described as being between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches and weighing between 170 to 180 pounds.
In all three crimes, the perpetrator’s faces were partially covered.
“We have stepped up patrols in the area and we ask business owners and residents to be cautious and aware of their surroundings,” LaGrange said. “If anyone out there sees anything suspicious, we want them to give the Sheriff’s Office a call.”
LaGrange also urged any person threatened with a weapon to give in to the robber’s demands.
“We want people to comply as much as possible,” he said. “Anybody that would go in with a gun and threaten bodily harm is pretty bold.”
Anyone having information on any of these crimes is asked to contact the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-783-6807 or Crime Stoppers at 1-877-903-STOP. Citizens who call Crime Stoppers do not have to give their name or testify and could receive up to $2,500.
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