Taking the "friend" out of Friendswood

[seamusTX]

According to a report in the Galveston County Daily News, two white men wearing ski masks robbed an employee of Papa John's Pizza at 201 E. Parkwood Ave at 12:21 a.m. Sunday. The employee was assaulted and robbed as he left the store with a bag of money.

The previous night at closing time a man wearing a “Friday the 13th mask” ran toward the restaurant at closing time, but the workers locked the front door and called police.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/354886" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This crime has indications of a robbery by a former employee or an acquaintance of an employee who knew routines.

Not to blame the victim or anything, but some of these businesses have cash management policies that are golden opportunities for robbers.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

In completely unrelated news, police busted a suspected "pill mill" in the 16718 block of Blackhawk Boulevard in Friendswood.

A toddler in the residence was released to a relative.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/354838" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Watch out for edgy cut-off junkies in Friendswood today, especially if you go to a pharmacy.

- Jim

[knotquiteawake]

So the previous night somebody in a mask takes a run at them.. Then the following night they just go about their business like normal and "surprise" get robbed?

[seamusTX]

I can't understand why these businesses don't use an armored-car service. Every convenience store does. Robbers know that they can't get more than $50 cash from a convenience store. That's why they steal cigarettes and lottery tickets.

Expecting a minimum-wage employee who is disarmed by store policy to "stop by the bank" at 2 a.m. is, um, not exactly the best idea.

I've seen literally hundreds of news reports of business owners being robbed as they leave the store or go home, probably most by fired employees or other people who know them.

- Jim

[n5wd]

I can't understand why these businesses don't use an armored-car service.

Because that costs money they'd rather not spend. After all, nothing's ever happened before, right?

[seamusTX]

Because that costs money they'd rather not spend.

One employee shot or otherwise injured on the job will cost them somewhere between five figures and their net worth. This would be workers comp, legal fees, or actual damages.

If the insurance company can prove that the employee was doing something outside the scope of the job (such as taking money to the bank), it will cost the business owner out of his pocket.

But what do I know?

- Jim

[ddurkof]

It is not hard to cover an employee taking money to the bank. Just add it to the job description and then pay the WC premium. If it is a workers' compensation claim there is no other recourse in Texas for the injured worker.

I know League City use to perform escorts for businesses that were open late at night, there just weren't that many open late back then. I don't know if they still do, but it was less manpower than working a robbery.

[JALLEN]

Not a new problem. One of my uncles ran some 7-11 type stores in the Houston area in the '50's. He said he lost track of all the times he found himself looking down the barrel of a gun. The HPD got tired of it, formed a special squad to go around and sit in walk in coolers at night. If you saw the gun, the gun, not some lipstick case in a jacket pocket, etc. you pushed a button on the floor and dropped, whereupon a police officer came out of the cooler with a 12 ga. and took care of it, no "stick 'em up," no "you have the right to remain silent," etc. He claimed that as photos and stories appeared in the Post, the incidence of convenience store and liquor store robberies dropped to practically nothing.

[smoothoperator]

Not a new problem. One of my uncles ran some 7-11 type stores in the Houston area in the '50's. He said he lost track of all the times he found himself looking down the barrel of a gun. The HPD got tired of it, formed a special squad to go around and sit in walk in coolers at night. If you saw the gun, the gun, not some lipstick case in a jacket pocket, etc. you pushed a button on the floor and dropped, whereupon a police officer came out of the cooler with a 12 ga. and took care of it, no "stick 'em up," no "you have the right to remain silent," etc. He claimed that as photos and stories appeared in the Post, the incidence of convenience store and liquor store robberies dropped to practically nothing.

It's too bad a claymore would require a NFA tax stamp but it seems like the store owners could mount a 12ga under the counter and take care of it themselves.

[seamusTX]

I know nothing about this specific restaurant location, but the owners of fast-food franchises typically do not work in the restaurant. In many cases they own a string of restaurants. They adopt a plain-vanilla policy manual that prohibits employees from having weapons or defending themselves and generally calls for employees to kneel down and beg if they are the target of a crime. They usually fire employees who fight back.

Apparently that business plan works, because I don't see them going bankrupt.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

In Friendswood yesterday, according to a report in the Galveston County Daily News, a 51-year-old man threw hammers at construction workers working in the 400 block of Oak Vista. Two workers were struck by hammers but not injured. The suspect also reportedly brandished a knife.

The man barricaded himself in a shed, and the cops had to gas and zap him. The misunderstood gentleman was arrested and charged with multiple felonies.

Updated to add, here is a public link to a story about this incident:
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/friendsw ... 4cb67.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The suspect reportedly had a history of encounters with the police dating back several years.

In unrelated news, an alleged burglar reportedly broke into a house in the 16100 block of Bougainvilla around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday and assaulted a 15-year-old girl who was taking a shower. The girl fought off the man, who has not been apprehended.

The suspect is described as a 19- to 20-year-old black male between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet tall.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... Vk5UP.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.khou.com/news/local/Friendsw ... 46281.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty precise on the age, if you ask me. I can't tell if people are 16 or 29 years old.

- Jim

[rp_photo]

I can't understand why these businesses don't use an armored-car service. Every convenience store does. Robbers know that they can't get more than $50 cash from a convenience store. That's why they steal cigarettes and lottery tickets.

Expecting a minimum-wage employee who is disarmed by store policy to "stop by the bank" at 2 a.m. is, um, not exactly the best idea.

I've seen literally hundreds of news reports of business owners being robbed as they leave the store or go home, probably most by fired employees or other people who know them.

- Jim

I would figure that enough people pay by credit or debit card these days to reduce the cash on hand.

[seamusTX]

I would figure that enough people pay by credit or debit card these days to reduce the cash on hand.

Probably a lot of customers use plastic; but many don't. Also robbers are slow learners.

- Jim

[old farmer]

I would figure that enough people pay by credit or debit card these days to reduce the cash on hand.

Probably a lot of customers use plastic; but many don't. Also robbers are slow learners.

- Jim

About 5 am , I was working in a local ER .. A patient (MVA) arrived with over $30,000 in brown paper bags. It took the Supervisor, Charge Nurse over 2 hours to count. He was pick up guy for 3 local stores. The 7 line machines need alot cash for pay off.

[seamusTX]

The 7 line machines need alot cash for pay off.

The 8-liners do also. And some of these convenience stores are dealing everything from pot to crack. But we're talking mainly about fast-food restaurants.

- Jim