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Recent robberies have fast food employees on high alert

Reported by Kristy Ondo - bio|email
Posted by Debra Worley - email

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Many fast food restaurant employees are on high alert after several recent robberies in the area.

Tuesday night an employee of the Subway in Castle Hayne was robbed at gunpoint.  Someone was waiting outside the back of the store.  When the employee took out the trash, the robber was able to catch the door and follow him inside.

No one was hurt during the incident, but the young worker was shaken up.

Two other robberies took place in Wilmington Sunday.  One at the Burger King on Market Street, the other at Arby's on Shipyard Boulevard.  The two fast food restaurants were robbed within hours of one another.

According to New Hanover County Deputy Charles Smith, there is no concrete evidence to link the crimes together, but they appear to be related.

Employees at Krazy Pizza, which is just feet away from the Arby's that was robbed, have begun to take extra precautions after the recent crimes.

General Manager Taylor Nagel says his employees wait to take the garbage out at one time with a team of people.

"So you can never have someone waiting for one person -they'd have to deal with five people," said Nagel.

Deputy Smith says teamwork like that is a great idea, and adds it is important to be aware of what's going on in the area.

It is also recommended that employees empty the register often, and always give up the money instead of getting hurt.

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