Temple Police Investigating String of Holiday Robberies

Four robberies kept police in Temple busy over Christmas weekend.

According to a press release issued by the Temple Police Department Monday morning, the first robbery occurred Thursday around 4:15 PM at John Jewelry Repair, 1904 W. Ave. M. Police say a man entered the store with a handgun and demanded money. The owner of the store exited the store through a rear exit and fired a shotgun at the fleeing suspect twice. Neither shot hit the man. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a white shirt, red hat, and blue jeans. He was last seen running west from the scene on foot.

A second robbery occurred at the Shop ‘N’ Go at 1217 S. 19th St. around 10:46 PM. Witnesses told police a man robbed a cashier at gunpoint before fleeing east on foot. The suspect was described as a black male, approximately 5’8” to 5’10” tall, wearing a dark gray hoodie, dark pants, white gloves, and a black mask.

On a Christmas Eve, a driver was reportedly robbed at gunpoint while stopped at the intersection of S Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and E. Avenue H. The driver told police a man approached the passenger side of her car with a gun and demanded her purse and cellular phone. The suspect then fled west on foot. He’s described as a black male with a large frame, approximately 5’09” 5’11” tall and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and dark pants.

Police were called to yet another robbery scene on Christmas day shortly after noon. Witnesses at The Fifth Wheel Lounge at 110 W. Avenue  M. told officers a customer who had been drinking went to the bathroom as an employee was preparing to close. A short time later, he exited the bathroom, picked up a pool stick, held it against another employee, and said he had a knife. He demanded money from the register, then fled east. The suspect was described as an Hispanic male wearing a blue and white polo style shirt, green jacket, blue jean shorts, and athletic shoes.

No injuries were reported in any of these cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or Bell County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-729-TIPS.