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With several recent thefts from unattended purses, and the holiday shopping season ahead, Crime Stoppers wants to bring this all too common crime to the forefront this week. We also want you to look at surveillance photos of a suspect involved in a theft from a purse at Lincoln Library in downtown Springfield. These crimes can occur anytime you are out in the public whether you’re shopping, at a business office, a doctor’s appointment, or any other public place. The thieves often quietly and quickly reach into the handbag and remove items- and are on their way within seconds. Sometimes the victims aren’t even aware that the theft took place until days later making it nearly impossible to catch the perpetrator. Crime Stoppers urges you to avoid being victimized, never leave your purse open or out of your sight.

During the past few weeks, Springfield has experienced an uptick in the number of armed robberies to convenience stores, carryout restaurants, and service stations. This is not uncommon during the late fall as the days grow shorter and chillier weather brings out jackets and longer coats. It’s also the time for small business owners to become more vigilant in securing their businesses and taking extra precautions to avoid being victimized. We remind citizens to step up in the fight against crime by reporting persons engaging in activity that seems to be suspicious or unusual. If you observe criminal activity, call police when it’s safe and make good mental notes so that you can be a good witness.

On September 10, 2016, shortly after 1 AM, a home invasion occurred at a mobile home on Imperial Valley Drive and Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward to any person who comes forward with information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrators. There were two suspects in this case, both were masked black males who entered the home, woke the victim, and struck him in the face with the semi-automatic firearm they had threatened him with. After ransacking the home, the suspects left with jewelry and other valuables. The victim was treated and released from a local hospital.
 

Police are looking for a subject who battered an 80 year old female subject in broad daylight on a sunny Sunday afternoon after he asked her for money and she didn’t immediately comply with his demand. The incident took place at the 400 block of N 2nd in Springfield, between Madison and Carpenter, on October 16th. There’s a very good surveillance photo of the coward who punched the lady several times in the face before he took her purse and left her injured with no remorse or concern for her well-being. The victim has recovered from her injuries and the purse was found nearby, now it’s time to find this heartless and gutless criminal and lock him up.

Shortly after midnight on October 12 the new Dominos Pizza location at 2660 S Sixth Street was robbed by an armed black male subject who was wearing a ski mask. The suspect entered through the rear door of the business, pointed a revolver at an employee, and demanded cash. After his demands were complied with, the suspect left through the alley at the rear of the business. Police are processing evidence left at the scene. Crime Stoppers takes tips on all types of crimes and this is a good example of how someone can earn up to $1000 for their anonymous information. In this, as in nearly all crimes, somebody else besides the perpetrator knows who did it. Call Crime Stoppers, you don’t have to give your name, just the name of the person who committed this robbery.