2010 Brings Increase In Robberies In Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS – The six overnight Saturday robberies are examples of a trend toward an increase in the crimes, according to police.

Although exact statistics were unavailable Sunday, Sgt. Dale Fox, arobbery detective, says hold-ups are happening more often than usual. The city usually has between 500-550 each year. Fox says his unit has been investigating at least 2-3 new robberies daily for the past several months.

“We could use a break,” Fox confesses. “My guys have been on the go.”

Fox says he doesn’t know why robberies are increasing. Five of the six overnight crimes happened on the city’s southeast side, an area which seems especially targeted by crime in recent years. Among thevictimsSaturday night andearly Sunday morning were three 7-11 stores, twopeople outside a billiards parlor, a person walkingalong a street, and a tanning salon. A shot wasfired at a clerk, but missed; another clerk was assaulted; the salon employee was locked in a restroom; and the street victim was tackled from behind and stabbed in the lower leg. The injuries were not serious.

Guns were used or suspected in the hold-ups, and Fox worries about the violent nature of the crimes. “I think there’s a tough combination. We want to let the public know what’s going on. But I think that sometimes inspires others to follow in the footsteps of people they’re seeing, who they think are getting away with robberies. But the thing is, we get them eventually, anyway.”

Police arrested five suspects in two of the 7-11 robberies, but five suspects remain at large in the other hold-ups.