HOUSTON – Police are searching for a man who they believe to be responsible for up to 30 robberies of fast-food restaurants around the Houston area.
According to Houston police, the man's actions are similar during the robberies. He hides his hand with a hat or bag, claiming to have a gun, then either asks to make a purchase or demands money.
"There's a couple of cases where he's left the place he was robbing, telling them I know you're going to call the cops, don't you dare follow me or I'll come back," said Sgt. S. Ashmore of the Harris County Sheriff's office.
The man is described as black, with a heavy build, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 250 to 275 pounds. He has a beard and was wearing a beanie or a ball cap and sunglasses.
In at least one incident, he fled in a black Honda Civic.
Police say the robber has become increasingly threatening in his demeanor and while he hasn't hurt anyone yet, they fear it's only a matter of time before things escalate.
"It's a matter of time before somebody either tries to confront him and he hurts somebody or he gets hurt . somebody is going to get hurt one way or the other," Ashmore said.
Investigators in the Houston Police Department's Robbery Division, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incidents. They will release a list of restaurant locations at a press conference at 2 p.m. that you can watch live on Click2Houston.com.
Anyone with information about the cases is asked to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0900 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.