HOUSTON – Two teens were arrested Wednesday in connection with a string of robberies at several Denny's and IHOP restaurants throughout the Houston area, police said. One robbery suspect is still on the run.
According to investigators, at least one person was shot and injured when the trio went on a robbery and shooting spree at the restaurants.
Police said two of the boys, who are 16 years old, were captured after a tip was called in about the location of the stolen Cadillac CTS they were driving.
Officers located the car and a chase ensued, police said. The chase ended at East Orem at Martindale when the driver of the stolen car crashed into a car at a stop sign. Police said a woman and two children were in the car the suspects hit.
No one was hurt.
According to police, it all began when the three, all masked and armed with guns, stole the silver CTS in a carjacking around 11 p.m. Tuesday from Martin Luther King and South Loop in southeast Houston and robbed a Denny’s on Westheimer at Dunvale around midnight.
The group then robbed an IHOP on West Sam Houston Parkway at Westheimer, police said. They shot at customers during the robbery, but no one was hurt.
Around 1:30 a.m. the group robbed the safe at a Denny’s on Wilcrest at Katy Freeway, police said. According to investigators, the group held customers at gunpoint and demanded cash from the register and safe. When a customer tried to intervene, one of the gunmen shot the customer in the stomach.
The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to live.
The group then headed to an IHOP on Highway 6 in Sugar Land around 2:30 a.m. and robbed the safe, police said.
No injuries were reported at the restaurant.
Denny's corporation released a statement regarding the incident:
“Our thoughts are with our guest that was injured as a result of this senseless act of violence. Denny’s is a family dining restaurant and the safety of our guests and team members is of our utmost concern. The franchisee of this independently owned restaurant is assisting authorities in their investigation and we ask that all further questions be directed to the local authorities.”
Anyone with information about his whereabouts of the third robbery suspect or the crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.