Masked Publix robber points gun at employee's head during robbery

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Investigators in at least four central Florida cities are looking for robbers who are targeting Publix grocery.

Masked gunmen Sunday night hit the Publix on West Sand Lake Road in the heart of Dr. Phillips, authorities said.

Surveillance video shows the two men burst through the shopping center door at about closing time with guns drawn and customers still in the store.

A man in a red-hooded sweatshirt can be seen holding a gun to a woman's head during the robbery that lasted just under 60 seconds.

One of the men forced the employee to a part of the store where the safe was being counted. His partner kept others at bay until the two got what they wanted at dashed out of the store with a bag full of cash.

"It's shocking and it's scary, and I feel so bad for the employees. Now they're just going to be, it's going to be difficult for them to go back to work and scary for everybody," said Windermere resident Traci Kendall.

Investigators said they believe the robbery was related to at least two others that were very similar, including one at a Publix on Aloma Avenue in Winter Park, where the men approached a manager at the door with a gun to the head.

In an Altamonte Springs robbery almost a year ago, one of the men can be seen on surveillance video bursting into the store office with a gun drawn, startling a manager inside.

In each case, they dashed out with a bag of money.

Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.

WFTV