Armed bandit steals $50,000 from armored truck guard

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An armored truck driver was targeted in an afternoon robbery in the Meyerland area.

It happened at about 2:30pm at the Randalls grocery store at 4800 W. Bellfort near S. Post Oak Road. A Brinks Security employee was servicing an ATM inside the store when an armed suspect approached. He pointed a gun at the guard and demanded money. He got away with the guard's weapon and $50,000.

Police say that while the suspect did point a gun at the guard, no shots were fired, despite earlier reports.

The grocery store and bank remained open all afternoon. Only a small area around the ATM was affected. Regular shoppers at the store are shocked by what happened.

"It's a shame," said shopper Don Degen. "It seems like there are becoming more and more robberies and hijackings and things. I just don't understand it."

Investigators say there is just one suspect. He is described as a black male between 25 and 30 years old, 5'7" to 5'9", with a slim build and medium complexion. He was wearing a tan or off-white long sleeve button down shirt, blue jeans, a baseball cap and sunglasses. His getaway vehicle was a white Ford F-250 pickup truck.

FBI and other law enforcement officials are reviewing surveillance videos.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, miya shay

View the original article here

Two men try to rob armored truck outside SW Houston bank

Police investigate an attempted aggravated robbery of an armored truck parked outside a bank in southwest Houston.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are investigating an attempted aggravated robbery of an armored truck parked outside a bank in southwest Houston.

The incident happened shortly before 3pm at a bank in the 5200 block of Kirby Drive.

Initial information suggests two men posing as construction workers tried to rob an armored truck in the bank parking lot.

The suspects then fled in a white pickup truck, but a couple of blocks away, SkyEye HD spotted police cars by an abandoned pickup truck that had a construction hat on its dashboard.

It did not appear that any suspects were arrested.

Police are still at the scene investigating.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local

View the original article here

Security experts weigh in on armored truck robbery

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's been more than 24 hours since gunshots rang out in the parking lot of the Kroger in the Heights and an armored van was stolen.

We're still waiting for details on how much money was stolen in the heist, and police have not released much information about the suspect. But there are questions about what went wrong, and how the suspect was able to take control of the van.

As the investigation continues, some security experts we spoke with are curious about the outcome.

It happened in broad daylight Tuesday in front of witnesses -- an armored van and its two armed guards stopped at a Kroger Fuel Center and overtaken by what police were told was a lone gunman.

"It looked like he was shooting at the van. He wasn't trying to shoot out everywhere. He just focused on the armored truck," said one eyewitness.

The van and all the money it contained were hijacked and recovered one street away at an apartment complex. The robber was said to have left in a blue Chrysler PT Cruiser. The heist was big news certainly in the security world.

"It's very seldom that an armored vehicle gets taken," said Sergeant Glenn Anderson with BP International Security Training.

BP International is in the business of training those who want to be security guards and that includes working as armored car guards. What baffles Sgt. Anderson is why the armored car guards from Tuesday's robbery appeared to both be out of the truck and vulnerable to a robber. Usually, we're told, a driver always stays in the vehicle.

"It's very seldom that the officer inside the truck is going to get robbed unless there are high-powered assault rifles involved and explosives involved like you might see on your little TV shows. But it has to be a well-synchronized robbery in order for you to get the truck," said Sgt. Anderson.

As for the stolen armored van, it's now back at Triple D Security, bullet holes and all. We attempted to speak to the company office, but they told us no one was available.

It's unknown for now whether one guard left the van to protect his partner who may have been threatened by the gunman at the time. All of that will be part of the FBI investigation, according to a spokesperson.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

heights, local, deborah wrigley

View the original article here

Armored truck stolen during robbery at Kroger in the Heights

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search is on for the man who stole an armored truck at the Kroger in the Heights.

The FBI has been counting cash tonight to see how much was stolen during this heist, though they never release exact figures. It was a bold robbery in the middle of the afternoon, two against one, and at this busy gas station.

It's back to business at the Kroger Fuel Center on North Shepherd at 11th Street. Actually, business never really stopped. Pumps remained open despite gunfire in the parking lot that stopped Rosemary Perez right in her tracks.

"We heard three, then two seconds later, another three. It was six shots," Perez said.

She first ducked for cover behind the counter at the cleaners where she works across the street, and then when she looked up, saw the armored van speed off.

Authorities say two armored car guards came under fire shortly before 3pm Tuesday as they were making a delivery at the gas station. They exchanged gunfire with the robber. Stray bullets struck tires in the parking lot, but no one was hurt and the suspect managed to get away with the prize.

Minutes later, and just around the block, Houston police found the bullet-riddled van abandoned in the back of an apartment complex at 900 N. Durham where they think the armed robber transferred cash to a waiting car. K-9 units tried to track his scent while back at the gas station loved ones comforted the guards.

When they were through, they didn't answer questions.

Triple D Security, the company which operates the van, said they had no comment. And the guards had to tell their stories again elsewhere. They were taken away from the scene. While across the street, Rosemary Perez and her co-workers stood amazed that no one was hurt.

"It looked like he was just shooting at the van," said Teresa Torres.

The armored van had just finished a delivery at the Kroger before moving to the fuel center. There isn't a detailed description of the robber, but a reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers for information.

There were a few armored car robberies earlier this year and some remain unsolved. The FBI's Houston Area Bank Robbery Task Force is investigating to compare them to see if any are linked.

HPD is very familiar with this Kroger store, and it may seem familiar to you, too. That's because just a few weeks ago, Houston police invited the media to that Kroger for a press conference on safety. They spent that morning discussing what shoppers can do to avoid becoming crime victims. Then officers went from vehicle to vehicle, leaving notices on the windshields of those that were prime targets for thieves.

In addition, HPD has a storefront office directly across the street from the grocery store.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

heights, local, jessica willey

View the original article here

Armored car robbed at credit union

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police and the FBI are investigating an armored car robbery in the Spring Branch area.

At about 9:30am, police say a Brinks armored car was robbed at First Community Credit Union in the 9100 block of Westview at Campbell. The 911 caller said they thought they heard gunshots, but that has not been confirmed.

The armed suspects fled in a green dually pickup truck. There's no word on how much money may have been taken, or if anyone was hurt.

The credit union remains open for business. The FBI is investigating.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local

View the original article here