CPD offers robbery prevention tips to Columbia businesses

By John Gass and Matt LaVeille

Published Sept. 23, 2008

Multiple Columbia businesses have recently been hit by commercial robberies, and the Community Services Unit of the Columbia Police Department released some prevention tips to help owner and employers of local businesses to help be better prepared.

The prevention tips come after multiple robberies at various businesses in Columbia, including Bandana's Bar-B-Q, Fast Lane convenience store, Squeaky B's Car Wash and some pizza delivery drivers, Haden said.

"We just wanted to get that information out," CPD crime prevention Officer Jessie Haden said. "Now that the weather is getting colder we see robberies go up. It's probably folks need money to stay indoors so that money's getting spent for a hotel room."

Monday morning when two employees of Bandana's Bar-B-Q were opening the restaurant, located at 1705 N. Providence Road, when a suspect came in the back door of the restaurant and struck one of the employees in the back of the head with a handgun, a CPD news release stated.

The two men were then locked in the freezer by the suspects, according to an employee of the restaurant.

On Sunday a man entered the Fast Lane convenience store at 1013 West Blvd. with a handgun and demanded cash. The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money and then fled the scene, according to a CPD news release. 

The victim was a 32-year-old clerk who was on duty at the time of the robbery.  The clerk was not harmed in the robbery.

The victim who was struck was treated at the scene, the news release stated.

The prevention program currently offers free security inspections for local businesses, which help to expand upon the tips CPD sent out today.

"We're able to give folks important specific tips during inspections," Haden said.