Police are investigating what appears to be a string of six related armed robberies in Greater Portland in the past week.
Police departments in Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth and Cumberland say six small businesses have been robbed since last Tuesday. The robberies all involved a man wearing a face mask who used a handgun and demanded cash.
No one has been injured, but managers say some employees have been shaken up by the incidents and police are concerned about the potential of violence. The latest robbery happened Sunday night at a Portland restaurant.
The China Taste on Washington Avenue was robbed around 8:40 p.m. by a suspect who displayed a firearm. Portland police say they are investigating whether the incident is connected to a spate of robberies in the past week.
Lt. Robert Martin said the gunman entered the restaurant and demanded cash while threatening the clerk with a black semi-automatic handgun. The suspect, who was not given any cash, fled the restaurant when employees from the kitchen came out to investigate what was happening.
Martin is urging shopkeepers and business owners to remain vigilant.
The burst of crimes is unusual, he said, and with a firearm involved, he said investigators are taking the crimes very seriously.
“We get a fair amount of (armed robberies) throughout the year, and they’re usually drug-related.” But, Martin said, “to have so many and with the similarities so much the same in a short amount of time, its definitely an up-tick. And the potential for violence is so high. An armed confrontation between officers could occur, or an armed confrontation with a citizen trying to stop a robbery (could occur).”
After the Sunday night robbery, a police dog tracked the suspect a short distance to Maine Avenue, where the suspect likely fled in a vehicle, Martin said.
“We’re confident that Maine Avenue was the escape route,” Martin said. “(We’re asking) anyone who has surveillance cameras, video setups, to review them. Most likely the person parked the car, watched the place for a while until they felt comfortable and then went in. It would most likely be a vehicle not familiar to the neighborhood.”
The suspect in the Portland robbery is described as a white man about 5 feet, 5 inches tall. He was wearing an oversized hooded sweatshirt with a dark green and light green camouflage pattern with the hood pulled over his head. He was also wearing a dark colored zip-up shirt under his outer clothing and had it pulled up so that it partially hid his face, Martin said.
Martin said detectives from each department are working hand-in-hand to share information and dig up new information about the robberies. The departments have been in regular contact with each other, and are working with the FBI safe street task force and the Maine State Police, he said.
Martin recommended that business owners in the area keep less cash on hand so the robberies are less attractive to the perpetrator. He also urged business owners to “be the best witness you can,” he said.
“Listen to the robber’s commands. Listen for speech impediments, dialects, phrases they use. (Watch for) clothing details. Walks with a limp, or is right- or left-handed. Things like that. Look at the height on the door markers. Direction of travel is incredibly important. If a person leaves in an area, tell that to a dispatcher. If you do have surveillance video cameras, put ’em out. If you’re near a convenience store, always review them after something happens.”
The description of the suspect in the robbery at China Taste is similar to descriptions provided to police by employees of other businesses robbed in the past week, including a coffee shop in Westbrook.
On Saturday, a man brandishing a handgun entered the Daily Grind drive-thru on Main Street in Westbrook shortly before 8 a.m. and threatened a 16-year-old employee. The suspect fled on foot, according to Westbrook police.
Sue Salisbury, who bought The Daily Grind with her husband more than a year ago, said her daughter was the employee who came face-to-face with the robbery suspect Saturday morning. After hearing a knock on the back door of the drive-thru section of the business, the teen opened the door thinking it was her step-dad, Joe Salisbury.
“He told her he wanted her to open up the cash register and assured her he wasn’t going to hurt her,” Sue Salisbury said.
Sue Salisbury said the suspect had his hood up and his face was covered by a mask. After he left, her daughter called for her step-father, who was working in another part of the business. He then alerted police. The Salisburys said they turned over footage from three surveillance cameras to investigators.
The Daily Grind had to close for the day Saturday while police investigated. On Sunday, regular customers and friends streamed into the business to buy coffee and food, leaving behind extra change to help make up for the financial loss the day before. Many hugged the Salisburys and offered their support.
“As a new business, it’s hard to have something like this happen and have to close for the day,” Sue Salisbury said. “Our customers realized the impact – the mental aspect of being robbed, but also the economic impact of that.”
Sue Salisbury said her daughter – who she declined to name out of concern for her safety – was scared by the robbery, but is “really strong.” She was scheduled to return to work Monday afternoon.
Four other convenience stores and gas stations in Greater Portland have been robbed since last Tuesday. No one has been hurt in the holdups.
The first robbery was Tuesday night at the Riverton Gas Station on Forest Avenue in Portland. The robber had a silver handgun and was described as a man about 30 years old, 5-foot-5 with a thin build and wearing a heavy dark jacket, dark gloves, and a ski mask.
On Wednesday, Falmouth police searched for a man who flashed a gun at the Lil’ Mart store on Route 1 around 8 p.m., then fled with some cash. He was described as white, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, face mask and black gloves. A manager at the store declined to comment Monday.
A white man robbed the Good Things Variety on Saco Street in Westbrook around 1 p.m. Thursday. Police unsuccessfully tracked the robber with a dog. He was described as 5-foot-8, with a skinny to medium build and wearing a blue sweatshirt or fleece vest with yellow lettering, a face mask and sunglasses.
Cumberland police said someone robbed the Irving gas station a 174 Main St. at 8:44 p.m. Thursday.
Portland police are asking people who live near the China Taste restaurant to check their home surveillance systems to see if any vehicle or pedestrian traffic was recorded around the time of the Sunday evening robbery. Anyone with information can call Portland police at 874-8575.
Investigators from the four communities met Friday to discuss the investigation and share information, but have not said they are looking for the same suspect in all of the robberies.
Armed robbery is a Class A felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
This story will be updated.