Serial Robbery Suspect To Clerk: "You Know What's Going On"

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus police detectives confirmed they believe Tuesday’s armed robbery likely is linked to 13 other recent crimes and the city's serial robbery suspect.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

The Certified gas station on Frank Road was robbed by an armed man early Tuesday morning, police said. He fled the scene with an undetermined amount of money.

Tuesday's robbery happened close to 2 a.m. on the city's South Side.

Dustin Lindsey said a man walked up to him outside the station where he works.

Lindsey said he told the man the station was closed but the man came up, pulled out a pistol and said, “You know what’s going on.”

“He followed me in with the gun to my back. He threw a bag over the counter and said, ‘fill it up,’ ” Lindsey said.

Donna Thomas was at the register and said she was very scared.

When the employees were unable to get money out of the register, the suspect demanded they open the safe.

“He was telling me it was OK, and you're holding a gun to me. How do I know it's OK?” Thomas said.

The suspect fled the scene.

An officer spotted the suspect's vehicle leaving the station. That's when the suspect fled the scene and officers pursued the suspect.

The suspect ran a stop sign and crashed the vehicle into a tree about a mile away at Brown and Dyer roads, according to Franklin Township police.

The suspect was able to flee on foot and remained on the loose after a police search of the area.

Lindsey said the man who robbed the station Tuesday was the same man who robbed the station Saturday, June 13.

He was armed with a pistol, though, Lindsey said. Officials confirmed that. The serial robbery suspect has been known by his sawed-off shotgun.

Lindsey said the suspect said the same lines" "I got kids to feed."

"Well, we do too," Lindsey said.

CPD said detectives have connected 13 local armed robberies and the serial robber has been behind the crimes.

ROBBERIES
- Friday, June 12: Starbucks coffee shop at 350 S. Third St.
- Friday, June 12: An individual at Mohawk and Whittier streets, German Village
- Saturday, June 13: 7-Eleven convenience store at 2481 Petzinger Rd., a drug store at 2940 Groveport Rd. and a Certified station at 1093 Frank Rd.
- Monday, June 15: Marathon station at 1690 S. High St.
- Thursday June, 18: Starbucks coffee shop at 350 S. Third St. and Tee Jayes Country Place Restaurant at 1335 Parsons Ave.
- Monday, June 22: Local pizza shop on East Broad Street (CPD said the pizza shop did not want its name released.)
- Tuesday, June 30: A drug store at 2940 Groveport Rd.
- Wednesday, July 1: Max & Erma’s at 739 S. 3rd St.
- Thursday, July 2: Cup o‘ Joe at 2418 E. Main St., Bexley
- Monday, July 6: Waffle House at 3960 S. High St.
- Tuesday, July 7: Certified station at 1093 Frank Rd.

Here’s the description CPD supplied on the serial robbery suspect:
- He is a 25 to 35 year old white man.
- He is approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.
- He has been described as “very skinny.”
- He has blond or strawberry-blond hair.
- He has used a black wig in five incidents.
- He has a tattoo on his lower right leg.
- He has a full or scraggly beard.
- He wears a dark toboggan.
- He has worn a dark, oversized winter coat during two incidents.

CPD said detectives were continuing to process evidence from Tuesday’s scene and previous incidents. Detectives also were receiving tips and following up.

Anyone with information was called to call CPD at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.

You can text a tip to CRIMES or 274637 with a keyword of TIP125. You will always remain anonymous. Submit your tip online at http:www.stopcrime.org. Call 614-461-8477 or e-mail at tips@stopcrime.org

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