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Organized, Shotgun-Armed Robbers Hit 7-Eleven

Posted: 4:50 pm EDT July 10, 2009Updated: 6:22 pm EDT July 10, 2009

Shotgun-wielding robbers pulled off such a well-planned robbery in Daytona Beach, police are worried more may be in the works. The crooks who held up the 7-Eleven on South Beach Street (see map), early Friday morning worked like pros.

They didn't just rush in the front door; it was a team effort. They had one person in a car around the corner, one who went right in the front door and one out by the dumpsters to control an employee taking out the trash.

It's an ominous sight; a man clad head to toe in black, walked into the Daytona Beach 7-Eleven with a purpose. Right behind him, his partner forced an employee who was outside back inside and directed her right to the register.

"They came, they meant business. They knew what they were doing. They were in and out within a minute. They knew what they were doing," said Paul Barnett, Daytona Beach Police Department.

Security video shows the main reason the crew was so convincing, a sawed off shotgun one of them was holding. It was likely being aimed at the store clerks while each opened a cash register. One clerk could be seen on surveillance covering her face and appeared to be trying not to look at the robbers faces, even as she dumped the entire cash register tray out on the counter for them.

"Absolutely, armed with a shotgun. It's not a knife, it's not an implied weapon, and it's a shotgun. They mean business. We want the public to be aware of that and be cognizant of that also," Barnett said.

The suspects had on gloves and full masks. Only their eyes were visible. That's opposite of a number of recent robberies that were more crimes of opportunity. Police said Friday's crime appeared to be planned out and well-organized. Police said the method doesn't match any recent crimes in the area.

Police are looking for the dark Pontiac Grand Prix that picked the men up when they ran out of the store.

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