Baskin-Robbins worker fights-off serial robbery suspect armed with knife: 'I told him he was a hero'



SEATTLE - Seattle Police are asking for the public's help to identify a serial armed robber targeting Baskin-Robbins stores and Subway shops.

Detectives say he has hit at least four times since October. In the most recent robbery on November 25th, the suspect, described as a black male, 40-50 years old with a possible shaved head, entered the Baskin Robbins at 2001 Rainier Ave S with a large knife at about 4:30 pm.

"As soon as I get to the counter, he grabs me by the apron and then holds his knife to my stomach and he says, 'Open the register, give me all the money in it,' and I looked down and I'm like, 'whoa,' 'cause it's just like a huge knife at my stomach, and I'm just like, oh my god, we're being robbed," said Leslie, who asked us not to share her last name for her safety.





What the crook didn't count on was her male coworker, who told the crook to calm down while he opened the register. The robbery suspect put the knife down on the counter and lunged for the cash.

That's when Leslie coworker grabbed the knife.

"The suspect backs up like he’s stunned, can’t believe that this just happened. Now, his weapon's gone," said Ret. Det. Myrle Carner from Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound who is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for tips to identify the suspect.

Instead of leaving empty-handed, the thief jumped the counter.

"He’s very intent on getting that money. He doesn’t care if the clerk has the knife or not," said Carner.



That's when Leslie said her coworker jumped into action, landing several punches and kicks on the suspect who was trying to get to the register.

Eventually, the crook was able to get 6 dollars before bolting out the door with the clerk hot on his heels.

"I told him he was a hero and I bought him a cup and said, 'You're awesome! Stay like that,'" said Leslie.

Police believe the same suspect is responsible for robberies on October 29th at a Baskin Robbins store on Elliott Avenue, at a Subway restaurant on 25th Avenue East on October 27th. In both cases, he threatened to kill the victims. Mercer Island Police think he's also the suspect who robbed the Baskin-Robbins on 78th Ave. SE on October 19th.

Detectives say he appears to be 5'9" to 6 feet tall, with a dark complexion.



If you have any information that can help police identify him, submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by using the P3 Tips App that you can download to your phone for free or go to www.P3Tips.com. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).