En Espanol
Thursday, May 26, 2011
SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) - Armed robbery reports are becoming daily stories on our newscasts, whether it is surveillance video or crime scene tape.
Ten robberies have been reported in the Tri-county area in the past two weeks alone. People on the street are wondering what is going on.
"I feel that a lot of it has to do with the economy. I think people are desperate. They're doing desperate things," said a man whom was asked about the recent robberies.
His reference to desperation may be right.
Police say a homeless man threatened to bomb a Summerville bank if tellers didn't give him money. The suspect was caught minutes after the robbery.
"It's probably more to do with the economy than anything else I would say, because people have been out of work for years," said one man.
A gunman forced clerks at the Dollar General in Summerville to crawl back into the business with guns pointed at their heads.
"It just comes in waves," said Summerville Police Capt. Jon Rogers. "People do things they normally wouldn't do under certain conditions. We just don't know what's going on with these people."
Rogers said many robbery suspects tell his detectives after they are caught that they needed the cash.
"That's mostly what we hear is they needed some money. They just needed this, that, they needed to pay some bills," he said. "They really never get much, they really don't."
Source: http://www.live5news.com/story/14734379/police-recent-string-of-robberies-may-be-economy-driven If you, or someone you know, have any information regarding any crime, you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. You could earn a reward up to $1,000.Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 554-1111, toll free at 1-888-CRIME-SC, or online at www.5541111.com. Texters can send anonymous tips to CRIMES (274637), and mark the beginning of the message with "TIPCSL". Text STOP to 274637 to cancel. Text HELP to 274637 for help. Msg&Data Rates May Apply.