The Cinnaminson Friendly's was robbed at 12:27AM on Saturday morning. I first heard of this today on 1210AM this evening...the story is also on the CBS website
http://cbs3.com/topstories/Friendlys.robbery.cinnaminson.2.877094.html
This Cinnaminson crime trend is getting to a bit tiresome---the crimes are getting bolder and bolder, and this time there were multiple robbers with multiple guns---a formula for tragedy. The radio report I heard said that one gunman had a shotgun, and the other two handguns. Someone in the restaurant easily could have done something to spook the robbers into violence---or a passing policeman (and there are a bunch in that area) could have interrupted the robbery with dire consequences. Any more, it just seems that anything on the Route 130 corridor is an invitation to robbery. I tell friends and family to be very careful when patronizing a route 130 business at night.
Some things about the story don't quite add up. I've been to this Friendly's, and I don't think it's open after midnight. Also, forcing 24 people into the men's room is hard to believe. Here's the story from the website.
Police are searching for three armed suspects who robbed patrons at a crowded New Jersey restaurant early Saturday morning.
The suspects, armed with handguns and a sawed off shotgun, barged into a Cinnaminson Friendly's at about 12:27 a.m.
Police said two of the suspects vaulted over the counter and ordered an employee to empty the safe and the register.
Approximately 24 customers and four employees in the restaurant at the time of the robbery were ordered to the rear of the store. All were told to leave their belongings and cell phones where they were seated.
A majority of the customers were high school students who stopped at the restaurant after a dance.
The suspects then forced the victims into the men's restroom. No injuries were reported.
Police said the three suspects fled the scene in a dark colored minivan with over $1,000 cash.
The incident remains under investigation. If you have any information, contact Cinnaminson Police at 856-829-6667.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I just found your story when I was looking up the stories about this.. and yeah it's 100% true, and I know because I work there, and actually worked a few hours prior to the incident. It's really horrible and scary that something like this would happen at the place I've been working at for so long. Also, we're open til 12:30 on Saturdays, and have to stay til the customers are finished.
The comment above is completely correct. I've worked at a few Friendly's myself (along with every other South Jersey teenager) and the weekends can be pretty crazy. Yes, we do close at 12 on Friday and Saturday nights and if customers are still there after close, you obviously can't leave the restaurant. It's not uncommon to have after parties for school dances at Friendly's just about every weekend in the Fall/Winter. Managers often count the drawers at the register in plain view of the parking lot instead of in the office, a huge plus for passing criminals. As for fitting the 24 people in a restroom, I'm sure if you had a sawed-off shotgun and two pistols in your face... you would do anything these people asked you to do, regardless of the discomfort.
Most likely was an inside job. The relationship between closing managers and employees is very strong and most servers have enough knowledge of management procedures to carry out the duties themselves. Based on the employee turnover rate at Friendly's restaurants, an ex-employee could have easily committed this crime without flaw. I find it very irresponsible of the owner to leave young servers and managers on duty so late at night, subjecting them to such danger. These kids will never be the same after an experience like this.
Most of the custumers were students from palmyra high school who went there after there homecoming dance
I don't know how you can conclude it's an inside job---it's definitely a job of opportunity.
Route 130, easy in, easy out, and 5 minutes in either direction you are out of one town, and in another.
I can guarantee that this is true. Many of my friends were there and we talked about it the day after, two days before it his the news. Friendly's is open that late, too. I've been there that long before. A friend of mine said that they were literally crammed into the bathroom; another girl sat on her lap.
This IS true!! I also work there and our Fridays are late, until midnight!! YOu can doubt, but not every franchise has the same hours. I also was supposed to be on the clock tha night, but it was very slow and I left early! As far as the bathroom part, it is possible and it DID happen. Good people transferred to other stores due to this!!
Post a Comment