Denver police are asking for the public’s help in finding a portly bandit who dresses mostly in red and brandishes a knife.
The armed robber, who has assaulted some victims, has hit at least a half-dozen small businesses in the southeast metro area since Feb. 22, said Sonny Jackson, a Denver Police Department spokesman.
All of the robberies have occurred during the evening, between the hours of 6 and 11 p.m., Jackson said.
“He has shown a propensity to be violent,” Jackson said. “He’s struck a clerk or two when they’ve not complied quickly enough for his taste.”
The bandit has been hitting small retail stores, including a beauty supply store, a coffee shop, an ice cream store, a gift shop, and an electronic gaming store. He’s held up stores in Denver, Aurora and Greenwood Village.
He enters the store and goes to the cash register where he brandishes a knife and demands money, Jackson said.
“He is violent, hostile and aggressive in his actions,” Jackson said.
The robber has hit businesses with customers inside.
“He’s not worried about being seen by anyone else,” Jackson said.
Police describe the bandit as a black man, in his early 20s, about 5-feet 11-inches tall and close to 300 pounds. He wears a red hoodie, a red baseball cap, red gloves, black pants and white and black athletic shoes with red laces. He also wears a red bandana over his face to shield his identity. The man may have a diamond stud pierced to his nose.
In most cases the bandit has fled the store and got into a car driven by an accomplice.
The pair has fled in a silver Toyota or Nissan sedan with a rear-spoiler and LED lighting across the rear end. They’ve also used a White Chevrolet Malibu.
In one case the bandit drove away in a car by himself. That car is described as an older forest green sedan with a black front bumper.
Anyone with information on the robberies or a suspect is asked to call Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
