Southern Hills business owners worried about surge in armed robberies
By: Stephanie Claytor
Updated: November 13, 2012
People are worried in the Southern Hills neighborhood after five businesses have been robbed at gunpoint within the past month.
Fortunately, no one has been hurt but business owners are urging police to catch whoever is responsible before something tragic happens.
In the Mansfield/Walker Road area, at least three businesses have been robbed in the past six days. One of them is the Break and Run Bar and Pool Hall. Theresa Smith was working when they were robbed around 1:30 a.m. Nov. 9.
"Two men came in with hoodies and masks and told everyone to get down. He came around the bar and he had a gun and he said I want all the money," said Smith.
The bar's owner, Cindy Horn, said robbers got away with about $300. She's now concerned about the safety of her employees and customers.
"It's put everybody on edge. There's a major concern of someone getting hurt," said Horn.
According to Shreveport Police, the other locales nearby that have been robbed at gunpoint include:
Taco Bell, Mansfield Road,
customer robbed at gunpoint in drive thru lane - Oct. 13
Applebee's, Mansfield Road
- Oct. 14
The Family Dollar Store, Mansfield Road - Oct. 19
Circle K, Walker Road - Nov. 12
Mobil gas station (Kangaroo Express), Walker Road - Nov. 12
No one has been arrested.
John Lorick, founder of the Southern Hills Business Association, and owner of Southpark Auto Sales and Finance said he won't be the next victim.
"I can only say that we as business people are prepared to defend what we have honestly and diligently work very hard for," said Lorick.
Shreveport police officers said they have increased patrols in the area and their Armed Robbery Task Force is working overtime to catch the armed bandits.
"Robbery is something that concerns us," said Chief Administrative Assistant Bill Goodin. "We are up slightly from last year's numbers. So we look at that and take it very seriously. "
According to Chief Goodin, there have been 78 businesses robbed in Shreveport from Jan.1 -Nov. 13, and 17 of these robberies have occurred in the department's District 12 area.
The Department is offering free armed robbery prevention training to business owners, to help deter criminals from taking advantage of them.
If you have any information on these armed robberies, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 673-7373 or Shreveport Police Detectives at (318) 673-6955.
