Deputies: Gunman grabs McDonald's worker through window, empties register

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County deputies are searching for a man who they said opened the drive-through window of a McDonald's, grabbed an employee and held her at gunpoint before emptying the cash register.

Surveillance video was released from the Monday night robbery at the packed restaurant on North Orange Blossom Trail.

The robber was wearing a ski mask and black clothing, grabbed the employee with one hand and forced her to open the register while holding a gun in the other hand.

"It's very brazen to do this. You have a business on a busy street and this person comes up to the drive-through and leaps right in and demands money. Sounds like a person who's very desperate for money," said Lt. Paul Hopkins of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said the surveillance video may help them find the robber before he strikes again.

"The way he did this robbery tonight, he did his research how he would do the robbery," said Hopkins. "I would be quite surprised to find out if this was his first one."

The employee was not injured during the robbery.

Detectives scoured North Orange Blossom Trail for evidence and even brought in a K9 but the man was not found.

WFTV