HOUSTON – Houston police said they are looking for at least three suspects involved in four robberies since December.
The common denominator is a man seen in security video from two of the robberies who investigators believe is the ringleader.
When he robbed a Subway restaurant Jan. 7, he had a male accomplice hand the clerk a note, according to police.
Then the ringleader stepped up to the counter and showed a pistol he had stuffed in his pants.
“He’s smart because he has somebody else hand the note. He keeps fingerprints off everything,” Robbery Detective Jeff Brieden said.
The man used the same accomplice in another robbery, but then switched partners when he hit a beauty supply store on Wayside on Jan. 9, police said.
That time, he was accompanied by a woman who passed a note before he flashed a gun and the two cleaned out the cash register. She was also his accomplice in another robbery.
Police attribute a total of four robberies to the suspects from Dec. 27 to Jan. 9.
They believe the ringleader may have been involved in other crimes.
WATCH: Hollister Subway surveillance video
So far, no one has been hurt in the robberies, but police want to find them before that happens.
“In the robberies, everyone is cooperating. We don’t know what would happen if somebody didn’t cooperate and that’s our fear. We don’t want it to escalate,” Brieden said.
Here is a list of the locations the robbers have hit, according to police:
- Dec. 27: Subway at 1187 Edgebrook Drive
- Dec. 28: Subway at 11400 Gulf Freeway
- Jan. 7: Subway at 3933 Broadway Street
- Jan. 9: Sally Beauty Supply at 900 Wayside Dr #350
WATCH: Wayside robbery surveillance video
Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and/or arrest of the people in this case.
Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org.
Tips may also be sent via a text message by texting the following: TIP610 plus the information to CRIMES (274637) or via our mobile app (Crime Stoppers Houston). All tipsters remain anonymous.