HOUSTON – An urgent search is underway for an alleged serial robber who investigators say has hit at least six businesses. But it's not just businesses. In another case, investigators say the man pointed a gun at a woman and her children.
They say the suspect does the same thing each time: walks in, makes conversation with the clerk, then pulls out a gun.
Houston police say the man is responsible for six armed robberies so far this month. Surveillance video was taken from a cash store on Westheimer on August 2. At around one o'clock, he walked in and asked the clerk about a loan. After several minutes in the store, he pulled out a gun from his backpack and demanded cash.
"He says to her, 'I am here for a pay day,' and so he pulls the gun out, points it at them, has one clerk sit on the floor, has the other clerk put money in his backpack," says Kimberly Miller/ with the HPD Robbery Division.
About an hour later, the suspect walks into an EZ Loan store on Gessner near Long Point. He waits for the customers to leave, then approaches the counter. He pulls out his gun and demands money. You can see him turn around and kick the door open to make sure he isn't locked inside.
A few days later he hit two jewelry stores where he stole several gold and diamond rings. But his most recent robbery might be the scariest.
On August 13, he targeted a woman and her children in broad daylight as they were getting into their car in a shopping center on Long Point Road. He jumped into the car as the victim was reversing, pulled out his gun and demanded money.
"He is unpredictable. At first he started at cash stores, then he is going to jewelry stores, now he is getting in people's cars. He can be dangerous. He is armed. He isn't afraid to point his gun," says Miller.
That along with his non-threatening appearance and attitude has people who live and work in the area on edge.
"The fact that he just looks like an every day guy. I work in the area, so it doesn't make me feel good. He needs to be caught," says Bryan Jones.
The incidents occurred on the following dates and locations:
August 2 - 1:10 p.m. - The Cash Store 12520 Westheimer
August 2 - 1:55 p.m. - EZ Loan Store 1330 Gessner
August 2 - 2:40 p.m. - Texas Car Title and Payday Loan 9305 Long Point
August 6 - 10:30 a.m. - Kay Jewelers 1000 West Oaks Mall
August 13 - 11:40 a.m. - (shopping center) 7840 Long Point
The suspect is described only as a white male 45 to 50 years of age. He is about 6 feet 2 inches tall, 160 to 170 pounds, with a thin build. He has a gray goatee and dark hair that is balding on top. Police say the suspect was wearing reading glasses, brown work boots, carrying a side back pack, a black glove on his left hand and is armed with a gun.
Anyone with information on the identity of the wanted suspect is urged to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.