The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about two attempted armed robberies over the past two days – one at a High Ridge Circle K convenience store and then another at the Fenton Steak n’ Shake restaurant.
Nothing was stolen in either case because employees refused to hand over money, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Deputies got a call at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 15) about the robbery at Circle K in the 5600 block of Hwy. PP.
Then, deputies responded to a call at 1:55 a.m. today (Oct. 16) at the Steak n Shake in the 1100 block of Gravois Road.
“Based on the descriptions of the incidents, time frame and the descriptions given of the suspect, it is believed that these incidents are related,” the Sheriff’s Office reported in a written statement.
“They were very similar,” said Capt. Ron Arnhart of the Sheriff’s Office.
A Circle K employee told deputies that a white man who probably was about 5-foot-6 inches tall and weighed between 130 and 140 ponds entered the store with a black handgun and demanded money from the register, the report said.
“When the employee refused the demand, the suspect pointed the weapon at the employee and again demanded the money from the register,” according to the report. “The employee refused the suspect’s demands a second time, at which time the suspect fled the store in an unknown direction.”
He was wearing a black baseball cap, a black bandana-type cloth over his face, a black leather-like coat, a red shirt, gray pants and gray shoes, the report said.
A Steak ‘n Shake employee told deputies a white man who looked to be about 5-foot-10 inches tall or shorter and weighing 130-140 pounds approached her and demanded money from the register, according to the report said.
“When the employee denied the demand, the suspect again demanded the money from the register and again was denied,” the report said.
As the suspect was exiting the store, the employee noticed him carrying a handgun in his right hand, which had previously been tucked under his left arm, Arnhart said.
The suspect was wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket, red shirt, black leather gloves, a dark hat and a dark-colored mask over his face, according to the report.
Fortunately, Arnhart said, no one was hurt in either case.
Arnhart said typically he would advise people to go along with an armed robber’s demands.
"I don’t know what the store policies are (at these two locations), but you’re probably better off giving in to the demands,” he said. “In this case, we’re very fortunate no one was injured. It’s a bad situation and people act differently in stress situation, and this has got to be one of the most stressful situations for a store clerk or business person.”
The Sheriff’s Office got photos of the suspect from surveillance footage taken at the Circle K.
He asks anyone with information about the attempted robberies to call the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 636-797-5515.