Is it just me, or does it seem like we are in the middle of some sort of crime wave around here all of a sudden?
Another business in Wyoming has been robbed, stretching the total number of similar crimes in the area in recent weeks to ten.
The latest crime took place just before 2 p.m. Tuesday at Supermercado Mexico at 1160 Chicago Drive.
While there are some differences in the string of robberies in the area lately, investigators tell 24 Hour News 8 there are not enough differences to rule out this latest heist as being number ten for the bandits.
Police say the suspects used a handgun instead of a long barrel gun, which has been used in the other robberies.
"I can't say it's not the same people, but what is a little bit different in this particular situation is that there's a person that wasn't masked, and the fact that in some of the previous robberies they wore ski-type masks," said Lt. Paul Robinson of the Wyoming Police Department.
Don't forget the D & W hold-ups.
Walker - The same scene has played out over and over again, at stores around Greater Grand Rapids since early October. Police believe now at least nine robberies in Wyoming, Grand Rapids and Walker are connected.
The latest occurred at the D and W store on Remembrance Road NW in Walker late Saturday night. Police say a group of four armed robbers hit the D and W food store just before it closed at midnight on Saturday. The robbers held four employees and two customers at gunpoint, and took money. Police don't think this is the first time the robber struck.
One clerk who was robbed at the J and R Supermarket in Wyoming in early November said, "They all had masks on and told us to lie down on the floor."
In each of the nine connected cases, three or four masked men with guns entered the stores. Lt. Paul Robinson of the Wyoming Police Department says, “These men appear to be dressed in hooded sweatshirts or jackets with hoods that they wear over these masks. And dark colored clothing."
So it sounds like these are the same guys knocking over the grocery stores. But we also have theft going on in the 'burbs.
Ada Township - Kent County authorities are investigating a number of breaking and enterings and home invasions.
They all happened over the weekend. 3 happened in the 900 block of Sargent Avenue in Ada Township Sunday night. Police say the thieves had broken into two homes, and a garage. In one case, a homeowner was inside when she confronted the burglar. She ran to the bedroom, and hid in a locked closet until the man left.
Earlier in the day, a number of thefts were also reported in Cascade and Vergennes Township. The suspect broke into unlocked vehicles, garages and in one case entered a home.
We also have hotel robberies.
KENTWOOD - Kentwood police are looking for a man accused of robbing a hotel. It happened at the Ramada Inn at 3333 28th Street around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday. Police say a man implied he had a gun. They believe it's related to a number of recent hotel robberies in the Grand Rapids metro area.
This can't be good for tourism.