Tulsa Robber Tells Victims To 'Have A Nice Day'

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma – A suspect tried to use good manners to take the sting out of an armed hold up.  He waved a gun in the faces of employees at a north Tulsa restaurant and then told them to "have a nice day."

Police said the polite gunman could be behind a string of robberies.

11/15/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Police: Polite Robbery Suspect Sought

Workers at a Church's Chicken restaurant in north Tulsa were getting ready to close Sunday night, when an armed man took over the restaurant.

"She was very shaken up. Words, pretty simple. She said we just been robbed," said Mario Owens, Church's Chicken Manager.

Surveillance video shows the man herding the customers to where he can see them. Then he jumped over the counter and ordered employees to hand over the cash. Workers crawled from the back of the store, while the manager started emptying the cash register. At one point, the gunman yanked a worker off the floor by her shirt.

Police say no one was hurt.

The armed robber grabbed the bag of loot, jumped back over the counter, and took off.

"It's unfortunate for the workers here," Owens said. "They want to feel safe and make an honest living. and they got somebody taking from them."

Police suspect the Church's Chicken suspect tried to rob a Family Dollar on East Admiral and then hit another Family Dollar at 4th and Utica earlier Sunday night.

Officers are also linking him to the robbery of a Charlie's Chicken, two days earlier. Two other Family Dollar stores have been hit in the last two weeks, but police aren't sure if they're all connected.

Surveillance video of an October 24th, 2010, robbery of a Dollar General shows a masked gunman jumping over a counter just like in the Church's Chicken robbery.

Police believe its possible two groups could be behind these crimes. The folks at Church's are praying police find their robber before he strikes again.

"Police have our support. And we do have pictures of the guy. So hopefully, they'll catch him, before he hurts somebody," Owens said.

If you have any information that can help Tulsa Police, call Crime Stoppers 596-COPS.