February 25, 2021
SILVER SPRING, Maryland—Authorities are warning small business owners to be careful of their surroundings after a third robbery targeting Asian restaurant owners who were on their way home.
Investigators said a couple who left their restaurant in Hyattsville drove to their home in Fairland on Thursday night, February 18, where two men approached them and robbed them at knifepoint. The men stole a purse that contained money made from the business, according to WUSA 9.
“It’s obviously concerning that we have individuals targeting business owners who are leaving their business and going home,” Ofc. Rick Goodale explained.
The first robbery happened in early January in Wheaton. The victim said she had just gotten home after working at her restaurant in Takoma Park when she was approached by three men. One of the men hit her on the head and stole her purse, which had cash from her restaurant business and her car keys inside.
When a man rushed to help the woman, police say that man had a gun pointed at him, and his wallet stolen.
About a month later, officers were called to the woman’s restaurant in Takoma Park. Someone had stolen her silver SUV while she was working. Investigators believe whoever took the woman’s car keys came back to steal her car, reported WUSA 9.
More than a week later, police responded to another reported robbery in the 1800 block of Briggs Road. The woman who was robbed told police she was driving home from her restaurant in Silver Spring when she was rear-ended by a silver SUV.
The woman told officers that when she got out of her car to inspect the damage, two men got out of the SUV and threw her to the ground. One of the men pointed a gun at her, while the other went into her vehicle and stole her purse, which also included proceeds from her restaurant business.
The two men left in the silver SUV. Police say the first victim’s stolen SUV was found the next day, empty, near the area of the second robbery.
The woman said she left work early because she was feeling sick. She thought at first it was an accident and remembered the suspects were even polite. However, it quickly turned when they got closer to her.
“They hit my head and then put me on the ground. I was dizzy at the time and it was scary. They came to me and said if I didn’t give them money, then they will kill me and will shoot me and I was scared,” she told WUSA 9.
Screenshot via WUSA 9