LITTLE ROCK — Little Rock police are investigating the robbery of a second fast-food restaurant in two days.
Police said two black males entered Little Caesars Pizza, 7509 Cantrell Road, about 10 p.m. Thursday and demanded money from the safe and register.
The men, one armed with a semiautomatic handgun, jumped on the counter. The one armed with the gun said, "Brian, get the money!"
On Tuesday, a few miles away at the Quiznos Sub at 12911 Cantrell Road, an employee of the business and two black males robbed the sandwich shop around 9 p.m. Another employee of the business was beaten during the robbery and treated for injuries.
Police do not believe the two incidents are related, said spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings.
On Sept. 30, a manager of the Starbucks coffee shop at 12901 Cantrell Road was robbed at gunpoint just before midnight when two men climbed in his vehicle and demanded money. The men also stole from the business that night, police have said.
Fast-food eateries are an easy target for robbers because they're open late, Hastings said. However, that often means prison time for those who get caught.
"They're easy, they're convenient, they're open late, but you get very little money," he said."You're talking 100, 150 bucks, if you get that much, and you're looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years in prison for your first offense."
Most stores have systems in place to keep robbers from getting very much money.
"I think it has more to do with the fact that they're just open late, and it's just an opportunity," he said.
Suspects in the Little Caesars robbery are both about 5-foot-7, with medium builds. Both were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and face coverings.
One appeared to have a light complexion, police said.
The police are reviewing surveillance video of the incident.
Arkansas, Pages 15 on 10/27/2007