RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Police Department is currently working to investigate several recent business robberies across Rapid City.
Nine different business robberies have been reported in the last 30 days. Police have arrested a single suspect (who remains in custody) in connection with four of these robberies, however, police continue to investigate the other five. The reported robberies are:
· 2/22, 10:40 p.m. – Armed robbery at 2215 Haines Avenue (convenience store). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/3, 2:20 a.m. – Armed robbery at 1601 Haines Avenue (convenience store). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/11, 11:30 p.m. – Armed robbery at 620 Latrobe Avenue (hotel). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/13, 12:30 a.m. – Armed robbery at 601 Mountain View Road (casino). Michael Daker arrested.
· 3/15, 12:40 a.m. – Armed robbery at 720 N. Lacrosse Street (casino). Remains under investigation.
· 3/16, 11:25 p.m. – Armed robbery at 1320 Mount Rushmore Road (casino). Remains under investigation.
· 3/17, 10:40 a.m. – Robbery at 1625 N. Lacrosse Street (hotel). Remains under investigation.
· 3/18, 11:40 p.m. – Armed robbery at 1624 E. Saint Patrick Street (casino). Remains under investigation.
· 3/20, 5:05 a.m. – Robbery at 601 Mountain View Road (convenience store). Remains under investigation.
The RCPD has taken a proactive approach to preventing robberies at late night and overnight businesses in our community. From the evening hours of March 19th, through the morning hours of March 20th, nearly 30 different business received extra patrols from officers. Those that were found to be open received walk-through patrols.
As the RCPD works to identify the remaining suspects responsible for these robberies, convenience stores, casinos, hotels, bars, and any other 24/7 businesses are encouraged to incorporate the following safety precautions:
· If possible, maintain a single point of entry/exit for patrons. All other doors to a business should remain secured to employee access only.
· Ensure surveillance and security systems are in proper working order. Cameras should have good coverage of parking lots and points of entry. The function of silent alarms should be tested on a regular basis.
· Limit the amount of cash on hand to the minimum required for normal operation. Additional cash should be secured until it can be deposited off site as soon as possible.
· Limit window advertising in favor of clear visibility so employees can maintain the best situational awareness.
· Employees of these businesses should report all suspicious activity.
Should an employee encounter a robbery situation, they should take all reasonable actions to protect their own safety. Property is replaceable, human lives are not.
“Our staff continues to be in a state of operational readiness 24/7,” says Chief of Police Karl Jegeris. “The men and women of the RCPD will sustain that readiness in order to hold offenders in our community accountable throughout the current public health situation and beyond.”
