Police: Three businesses robbed in unrelated crimes

Three Wichita businesses were robbed Friday and early Saturday, but the crimes were unrelated, according to the Wichita Police Department.

The businesses were Sonic at 2224 S. Oliver, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft at 3665 N. Rock Road and Trios, a furniture accessory store, at 1900 N. Rock Road.

Trios

A 66-year-old female Trios clerk called 911 around 1:40 p.m. and reported that a man had robbed the store. The clerk said the suspect came to the register with items and when she started to ring them up, he reached over, grabbed the entire cash drawer and tried to take it.

The clerk tried to stop the suspect and they wrestled with the cash drawer for a little bit, but the suspect was able to take some cash and flee on foot.

Officers did not find any suspects in the area, and the Police Department said the clerk did not have any injuries, but a small amount of cash was taken. Sgt. Roger Runft said the department had not yet reviewed video footage.

Jo-Ann Fabric

At 7:25 p.m., 911 received a call from a 21-year-old female clerk at Jo-Ann Fabric. She stated that a man standing in line with other customers had waved a large knife at her and told her to give him all the money from the register.

The clerk handed the cash to the suspect. He left the store, and officers have not yet found any suspects.

“There were a couple other witnesses to this incident,” Sgt. Roger Runft said. “So we have a fairly good description we’re working with.”

Sonic

Shortly after midnight, officers were dispatched to the Sonic Drive-In at 2224 S. Oliver.

Three clerks – a 25-year old female and two 35-year old males – were closing the store for the night when a man pointed a silver handgun at them and demanded all their money, which at closing time was the proceeds for the day.

He took all the cash that was available to the employees and ran out of the area on foot. Officers got to the area quickly, but the suspect is still missing. None of the employees were injured. The Wichita Police Department said it would follow up with video surveillance from the store.

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Police: Three businesses robbed in unrelated crimes."