Police Investigating Connections Between Triple Robbery Spree

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Police are investigating the connections between a family-owned pizza restaurant and two other businesses targeted in a robbery spree involving three masked men.

Police believe all three are connected and fear the suspects are targeting businesses that may not be prepared for a robbery.

"They put the gun on my head, 'open the cash register, open the cash register,' " business owner Karnail Gidha said.

It's a terrifying experience Gidha had never dealt with in nearly 20 years of business.

"First, I think, maybe, you know, someone know me, they just joking," he said.

However, it was no joke. Three armed, masked men ran into Ginda's Lamppost Pizza on Northgate Boulevard around 10 p.m. Tuesday, and robbed him.

"They grab the money and, they leave," he said.

The robbery, according to Sacramento police, was the third in just about a one-hour span, likely by the same three suspects.

The first robbery occurred at the Lucky Express Chinese Restaurant in Del Paso Heights.

"They just took some cash and run away," the restaurant manager said.

The manager says this was the restaurant's first time robbed as well. The suspects pistol-whipped two employees, and then stole the restaurant's cash and the waiters' wallets.

"One of the waitresses they hurt a little bit on her head," she said.

Eight minutes before Lamppost Pizza was robbed, S P Liquor Market, also on Northgate Boulevard, was hit, with two employees there hurt.

Investigators are now trying to figure out if the crimes are connected to very similar robberies that took place weeks ago at restaurants in Natomas, Citrus Heights and North Highlands.

"I'm very scared about that, you know," said Ginda.

He hopes whoever the suspects are, they're stopped.

"I want to call the police and catch these guys, because maybe they do something else," he said.

There were no customers in Ginda's business, and police have no good descriptions. However, at Lucky Express, investigators were able to obtain very good video but are not releasing it to the public just yet.