Portland cops seek check-cashing bandit

Photo/sound file

Photo/sound file

Photo/sound file

This morning, Monday September 27, 2010 at approximately 8:09 a.m., Portland Police Officers responded to a robbery alarm at Check Cash Pacific, located at 8201 Southeast Powell Boulevard. Officers arrived and learned that an employee came in for work and two unknown race males forced their way into the business and bound her hands as they took an undisclosed amount of money from the business. A second employee showed up for work and found the victim bound and called the police. Based on the victim’s statement, the time of the robbery was between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. The suspects fled in an unknown direction of travel.

Detectives and Forensic Investigators are onscene conducting their investigation. No photos or video of the suspects is available at this time.

Detectives believe that this robbery may be connected with other armed robberies over the past few months, most recently last Friday September 24, 2010 at Check Cash Pacific, located at 4059 Northeast Sandy Boulevard. Portland Police Officers responded to a robbery alarm at approximately 8:36 a.m. Officers arrived and spoke with a female employee who told officers that the suspect pointed a gun at her and hit her on the head with the gun as he demanded money. The suspect forced his way into the business as the victim was opening for the day. After taking an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect fled the area on foot southbound on Northeast 40th Avenue from Sandy Boulevard.

The suspect is described as a six-foot-tall black male with a muscular build, wearing a long sleeve button-up shirt, khaki pants, latex gloves, a knit hat and glasses.

Video surveillance of this robbery is available for download.

On Tuesday May 25, 2010 at approximately 7:00 p.m., a suspect armed with a handgun demanded money from an employee at the Ace Check Cashing Express, located at 11902 Southeast Stark Street.

As the victim was closing the business for the night, the gunman approached from the street and forced the victim back inside the business demanding money. A second suspect entered the business and assisted with the robbery then forced the victim to lie on the floor as both suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect with the gun is described as a 30-year-old black male, medium build, wearing thick eye glasses. A composite drawing of the suspect is available for viewing at www.crimestoppersoforegon.com.

The second suspect is described as a 25-year-old black male, 6’1 – 6’2″ tall with a thin build.

On Friday July 23, 2010 at approximately 8:30 a.m., a suspect approached an employee as she was opening the Ace Cash Express store located at 16502 Southeast Division Street and forced her inside the business demanding money. The gunman hit the victim over the head with a handgun but fled the scene without getting any money.

The suspect was described as a black male in his late 20’s, 5’9″, 160 pounds, short hair and wearing glasses and may be associated to an unknown year red Nissan Pathfinder SUV.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any of these cases, or any unsolved felony crime. Callers can remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at 503-823-HELP (4357), or leave a tip online at www.crimestoppersoforegon.com.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information on these robberies is encouraged to call Detective Brent Christensen at (503) 823-0842.