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Leesburg police investigating possible armed robbery crime ring

At least 7 businesses along Highway 27 robbed in 2 weeks, police say

LEESBURG, Fla. – Leesburg police are looking into the possibility that multiple recent robberies are connected.

Surveillance video and witness accounts of the suspects show several different people are involved, but investigators said they could be working together.

The owner of a Domino's that was robbed on Sunday in Leesburg told News 6 he isn't letting employees walk alone to their cars.

Leesburg police said there have been at least seven armed robberies at businesses along Highway 27 over the past two weeks.

During the same time period as the Domino's robbery, police said a nearby Dollar General was also robbed.

Last Wednesday, an employee of Stavro's Pizza was robbed and the gunman shot his gun in the air.

"We have a spree that's going on along 27 (at) different businesses," said Stavro's owner, Nick Bitsios.

Leesburge police also released surveillance images from inside a Circle K on April 17 showing the robber wearing a long wig. Police said the robber showed the employees a handgun.

Detectives also released a witness sketch of the robber at the Domino's robbery and the incident involving the Stavro's Pizza employee.

"They used to break in in the middle of the night, do their damage, get what they are going to do and walk away. All of a sudden, you see a trend -- people getting robbed while in business during the daytime," Bitsios said.


About the Author

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

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