LYNN — Two more convenience stores were robbed on Monday night after Lynn Police issued an alert to the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce warning about recent armed robberies to businesses.
Police responded to a robbery shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday at Linden Market, located at 617 Summer St., and learned that a man wearing a black hooded coat came into the store, showed a handgun and demanded cash from the register, Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec said.
The victim, a 31-year-old male clerk, opened the register and handed the man the money. The suspect then fled the store, Kmiec said.
Later that night, shortly before 11 p.m., police responded to a robbery at Richdale, located at 59 North Franklin St.
A man, who was wearing a sweatshirt with the hood pulled up to cover his face came into the store with a knife and demanded that the cashier, a 34-year-old male, open the register, Kmiec said.
The clerk opened the register and the suspect took the money before running out of the store, Kmiec said.
Both incidents are under investigation.
Police are also investigating five other convenience and liquor store robberies from this month. Including Monday night’s incidents, five convenience stores and two liquor stores have been robbed in October.
On Sunday night, a Boston Street convenience store, One Stop Mart, was robbed at knifepoint. A Chatham Street convenience store, Sunrise Market, was robbed twice in one week by a masked man at knifepoint.
A food delivery driver was almost robbed at knifepoint last week, but was able to fight off his assailant, who took off with nothing. A taxi driver has also been robbed at gunpoint in October. Both incidents are also under investigation.
Kmiec said in each of the robberies, a gun or knife was shown, and the suspect’s face has been covered with a mask or by a hood. There have been no arrests this month for any of the robberies and the suspect(s) remain at large.
“We haven’t been able to identify whether it’s one suspect or multiple people committing the crimes,” Kmiec said. “It’s been more of an increase in the last couple of weeks without question. I don’t think there’s any explanation for it at this point. (We have tried) to notify the business owners as to what is going on and ask them to take the precautions, if possible.”
Kmiec said those precautions could include having multiple people working in the store and having windows free and clear of signs so people can see in.
He said delivery drivers should try to keep an eye on who they’re delivering to — they can make deliveries to the front door to make sure they’re seen and are less likely to get jumped from behind.
Kmiec said there is also concern over spoofing numbers when suspects go to the address with the anticipation of robbing delivery drivers there. He said delivery drivers should confirm that they’re delivering to an actual person, by confirming that it’s the person’s actual number.
In a recent alert to the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, Lynn Police Capt. Mark O’Toole warned all restaurants, food delivery services and retail stores about the recent robberies. O’Toole said he strongly suggests that victims of future robberies do not struggle or resist, especially if a handgun is displayed.
“All retail stores and restaurants should regularly check their video recorders to confirm they are functioning and also to (ensure) that someone who can operate the video system and download images may be available as soon as possible in the event of a robbery,” O’Toole said.
“Also, for retail stores, our personnel try and regularly look in to check on staff, but oftentimes posters or other items obstruct a view into the store. Even if just an area to view the clerk would be a great help,” he said.
Kmiec said the robberies are spread out all over the city. In the past, when there’s been one assailant or a couple of people working together for similar robberies, he said robberies have gone in spurts.
“It’s still too early in the investigation to determine whether it’s multiple people committing random acts or a group targeting specific stores,” Kmiec said.
If anyone has any information concerning the robberies, they may contact O’Toole from the police department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 781-477-4306.
If any delivery drivers or store clerks feel they may be potential robbery victims or observe a suspect from any of the previous incidents, they are encouraged to contact the department’s Patrol Division at 781-595-2000.
