Brazen armed robberies in Lynnwood have businesses, residents nervous

LYNNWOOD -- Armed robbers have hit several businesses in Lynnwood, with one thief pulling a gun on staff at a coffee shop during the busy afternoon rush hour.

The afternoon rush hour is busy for the Hot Shot Espresso in Lynnwood, which is why it's hard to believe someone would pull out a gun and rob the place at that time. The whole thing was captured on surveillance video.

Moon Ro, owner of Hot Shot Espresso, said he doubts it the robber's first time "because everything is ready, he's watching us."

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said it occurred on May 12.

A white man wearing a baseball cap, black hoodie and sunglasses walks into the store. After asking the employee to use the restroom, he pulls out a big handgun, then goes behind the counter and forces the employee to empty the cash register into a white plastic shopping bag.

"Scary -- it's not a small gun."

Even scarier, police say this is the third business to be robbed recently on 164th Street, including a bank and Manor Market.

In the Manor Market case, surveillance video shows two men -- one steals the cash from the register while the other points a gun directly at the store clerk, telling him not to move.

Neighbors in the area say they're fed up with the crime.

"These guys have guns. I have two babies in my backseat. We usually go out together a couple of us girls, because you never know who's going to approach your car, just coming here to this mini-mart," said resident Jenny Rodriguez.

Business owners are grateful their employees are safe -- for now.

"Yeah, was a really scary ... this time we're OK, but next time, never know, right?"

The sheriff's office says they're not sure whether these robberies are connected. But they ask that anyone with information about these robberies to contact police.