With the exception of a few thefts from the tip jar every month, Gumby’s Pizza manager William Blundell doesn’t often think about robberies.
But with the rash of armed robberies in East Lansing and Lansing in the past few months, the emergency procedures become important at Gumby’s Pizza, 311 W. Grand River Ave.
“A lot of customers come into restaurants and stores and there is just a lot of money (to be taken),” Blundell said.
In the past three months, seven armed robberies have occurred in the East Lansing, Lansing and surrounding areas, including the Dec. 18 robbery of E.L. Video Store, 3498 Lake Lansing Road, the Dec. 6 robbery of Burger King, 2010 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, and the Dec. 3 robbery of Quiznos, 2398 Jolly Road.
The number of robberies in East Lansing have been consistent since 2001, averaging about 30 incidents a year, East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said. Blundell said he tells front counter staff members to comply with thieves’ demands and behind-the-counter employees to lock themselves in a back office and call the police in the event of a robbery.
Wibert advises businesses to cooperate with thieves during robberies and to contact police once all victims are safe.
“There is no injury that (an employee) can sustain that would be worth what’s in the till,” Wibert said.
Thieves typically walk away from a robbery with little money because most businesses make several bank drops during the day, he said. But Blundell said if Gumby’s Pizza was robbed, it would take the business about two weeks to compensate for the money stolen and prices would be raised.
George Christodoulides, co-owner of Spartan Gyro, 565 E. Grand River Ave., said the restaurant’s insurance company would cover any losses from a robbery.
Christodoulides said the employees at his business also are told to give armed thieves what they ask for without resistance.
“With the amount of police force we have in this town … it’s kind surprising that so many robberies can occur,” he said.
Christodoulides said his delivery drivers have not been robbed, but he doesn’t force them to drive at night if they are fearful.
When a store or delivery driver is robbed, East Lansing police work with neighboring police stations to track local thieves.
“It’s generally the same group of people who are doing robberies over and over,” Wibert said. Wibert said he encourages employees at businesses to preserve the scene if there is a robbery by taking note of the objects the suspects touch so police can track fingerprints.
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