Police: Serial robber turns violent during motel heist

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Police are warning motels in DeKalb County that they are being targeted by a robber and they fear someone could get seriously hurt. Police said the robber has hit four motels in the past few weeks and two Waffle Houses prior to that.

Late Monday night, the robber struck again, this time at the United Suites, but it was during this robbery that things turned violent.

“He’s very quick. He walks in, immediately goes to cashier, has the gun out already demanding the money,” said Detective Doronte Evans with the DeKalb County Police Department.

Detective Evans said this is the sixth time this robber struck, hitting four motels and two waffle house.

Up until now, he hasn’t hurt anyone, but that changed at United Suites when the robber became angry at the clerk.

“The clerk gathered the money for him. He wanted more money and hit him in the head with the pistol because he didn't get more money,” said Evans.

Just a few days earlier, the same robber hit Studio 6. He jumps the counter, a move Detective Evans has seen him do before in previous robberies.

“He used that same method also in some of the Waffle House robberies where he jumps over the counter in what we call a ‘blitz-style attack.’ [He] ambushes employees where they didn't even have a chance to move or do anything,” said Evans

In the Studio 6 surveillance video, a woman can be seen in the background moving out of the way. She stands as still as she can, hoping not to attract any attention. She said the robber threatened to shoot the clerk as he grabbed the money.

“She remained calm, but says she made it a point not to make an eye contact with the man,” said Evans.

One of the witnesses did try to get the tag number off the car the robber sped off in, but she said the tag was covered up.

Anyone with information on these robberies should contact the DeKalb County Police Department.