"He makes his trademark entry through the roofs of hamburger restaurants and other businesses, hacking out a hole with saws and drills--even an ax--and dropping in to surprise employees. Despite an occasional pistol-whipping or shots fired into the air, victims say the notorious rooftop robber remains a cordial character who suggests they don their jackets before he locks them up shivering in the walk-in freezer. He later calls the cops to open the cooler."
"The masked, athletic suspect, whom authorities have dubbed Roofman, has struck 38 times across nine states from California to North Carolina. He has a penchant for Northern California, where 25 of his cat burglary-style robberies have been staged. He's businesslike and focused, and very serious about what he does, said Mike Van Winkle, a spokesman for the California Department of Justice. But many of those he's robbed have been struck by what a nice, decent guy he seems to be, a real gentleman."
"Since the crimes began in November 1998, authorities said, Roofman has robbed businesses in Nevada, Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Massachusetts. In California, nine robberies have occurred in Sacramento County. He also has hit restaurants in San Pedro, Castaic and San Luis Obispo. While he mostly targets McDonald's restaurants, the Roofman also has robbed Burger King, Blockbuster video, Toys R Us, Home Base and several grocery stores."
The masked, athletic suspect dubbed Roofman has struck 38 times across nine states since November 1998, with 25 robberies in Northern California. He enters businesses through roofs, cutting holes with saws, drills or an ax, and drops into establishments to surprise employees. He often brandishes a firearm, occasionally pistol-whips or fires shots into the air, then instructs victims to don jackets and locks them in walk-in freezers. He later calls police to open the coolers. Targets include McDonald's, Burger King, Blockbuster, Toys R Us, Home Base and grocery stores. Victims describe him as cordial and businesslike despite the violence.
Read at www.latimes.com
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