Armed coffee shop robber: One of three brazen armed robberies in Lynnwood that have businesses, residents on edge

WANTED IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY -- 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?" Detectives aren't sure whether all these crimes are connected but they happen fast and in similar fashion. "It really shows pretty aggressive, real quick style robbery,” says Shari Ireton with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. “These guys come in, threaten the employees that are there, pretty much just go straight to the cash register, take what they can and get out, usually within about less than a minute. In the coffee shop robbery the suspect comes in, asks to use the restroom, employee tells him that he needs to buy a coffee first. He says, ‘Well that's too bad,’ pulls out a gun, points it at her, orders her to empty the cash drawer. Again, out in about one minute. We really hope to get these guys off the street because of the safety for the citizens who live in that area and for the businesses, we want to give them a sense of assurance. We really want to get after these guys.” Detectives say the suspect in the coffee shop robbery is white, wearing a white baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt, white t-shirt, sunglasses and camouflage shorts. If you know his name or anything about the other suspects or robberies, call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers.