THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020452
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940602 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH
One of the suspects was a McDonald's employee, leading detectives to believe the targets were chosen because the robbers were familiar with the layouts and operations of the restaurants, Sgt. Tony Zucaro said.
{REST} In the Domino's incident, an employee was shot in the back. The employee recovered.
``I would say this is a large-scale robbery (ring),'' Zucaro said. ``Both in terms of the volume of robberies and the number of people involved.''
The robberies began March 10 and ended May 25, police said.
An eighth person was being questioned late Wednesday, Zucaro said.
The sergeant said more arrests were expected and the investigation is continuing.
Detective A.G. Ball, the lead investigator, got the first break in the case when one of the robbers left behind evidence that identified him, Zucaro said. He would not say what the clue was.
After investigating that person and his friends, Zucaro said detectives began dismantling the robbery ring.
Detectives in Chesapeake and Norfolk expect to charge some, or all, of the alleged robbers with three similar crimes, Zucaro said.
All the adults are being held without bail, except William W. Nelson, 20, of the 1200 block of Haig Circle, who is jailed under a $10,000 bail.
Two juveniles are being held in the Tidewater Detention Home, and the third was released to his parents.
Zucaro said all seven have criminal records. The investigation indicated the suspects were planning to expand the robbery spree to banks.
Most of the suspects were either out on bond for other crimes or had been released after earlier convictions. One juvenile was wanted for not appearing in court, Zucaro said.
``This might be a classic case of the breakdown of the judicial process,'' Zucaro said.
``Several could be classified as career criminals.''
The sergeant said all the robberies were similar.
At closing time at each McDonald's, between two and seven people wearing tightly drawn hoods waited outside the restaurant until the last customer left.
Then, they would burst into the restaurant ``quickly and forcefully,'' Zucaro said, and order the employees to the floor.
The robbers picked out the manager and made him open the safe and cash registers.
The robbers escaped in a car.
The Domino's Pizza employee was shot after hesitating to lie down, Zucaro said.
Police divers found a gun in a canal that could be the weapon used in that shooting, Zucaro said.
Anyone with more information is asked to call Ball at 427-4101.
{KEYWORDS} ROBBERY GANG
by CNB