Employees, customers robbed at DeBary IHOP

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Three men armed with guns forced employees and customers into the freezer of a DeBary restaurant Friday night during a robbery.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released images that show the men entering the IHOP restaurant on Dirksen Drive just before 11:30 p.m. with their faces covered.

Three employees and three customers who were in the restaurant at the time were forced into the freezer and robbed of their wallets and cell phones.

One of the robbers ordered a fourth employee to the restaurant’s safe at gunpoint but she was not able to open it.

The suspects had already left the scene by the time Volusia County Deputies were alerted to the robbery.

Despite assistance from Orange City Police and a Sheriff’s Office helicopter, the suspects were able to get away.

Investigators are now looking for a gold-colored minivan and a silver passenger car that may be involved.

The vehicles were last seen behind the restaurant just before the robbery.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the robbery to call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at (888) 277-8477.

WFTV