ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando IHOP restaurant was targeted early Wednesday morning by an armed robber for the third time this year. When the man armed with a gun did not get what he wanted, he took out his frustration on the frightened customers and employees inside.
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This is the second time in less than one month that WFTV has reported on a robbery at the same IHOP location. This time, deputies said a female customer was pistol-whipped and ended up in the hospital.
The IHOP restaurant on Lee Road ( see map ) near Interstate 4 seems to have become a magnet for armed robberies. For the third time, a gunman burst into the restaurant and demanded money and belongings from customers and employees.
"There was very limited people here, so I don't know if that was the reason why," said Captain Denise Rollins of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "This location is a good location. There are people driving by all the time, so I don't know why this location was chosen tonight."
Deputies said a young black man covered his head and face, and victims were unable to get a good description of him. They said he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, gloves and was dressed in camouflaged attire.
Customer Jim Caprio is stunned that the IHOP, where he eats breakfast, continues to be targeted by armed robbers.
"Well, I just frequented this place yesterday and I said, 'Wow, I think that's the place I went to,'" said Caprio.
Deputies said the robber took each of his victims to the back of the store where he forced them to give him their belongings.
At one point, a woman inside the restaurant was pistol-whipped after her husband says he suggested she try to escape the restaurant during the robbery. The woman was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"I'm not sure if she actually resisted him or if she was trying to defend herself. At this point, it looks like it was during the robbery," Rollins said.
Orange County investigators are looking into whether the same suspect in Wednesday morning's robbery was also involved in another heist on October 15. During that robbery, a high school student was forced to help the bandit collect belongings and cash while the crook held a gun to his head. Deputies were able to use a dog to track that robber to an area where they believe he may have had a getaway vehicle.
The sheriff's office has the video surveillance of both of the recent robberies and said the method of the burglaries and suspect descriptions match.
Previous Stories: October 15, 2010: Gunman Forces Teen To Help Rob IHOP Customers
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