Waterloo Police Investigating Series Of Armed Robberies

Waterloo police are trying to determine if a string of armed robberies in the city are related. Officers responded to three hold-ups involving a weapon during a span of about five hours Tuesday night (November 11, 2014).

The first reported robbery occurred at Hellman’s Dairy Queen on West Fifth Street just after 7:00 p.m. Police say a man entered the business, displayed a handgun and demanded money. The suspect is described as a black male wearing dark clothing, 18 to 21 years of age, and approximately five-feet, 10-inches tall. The man fled the area on foot.

Police responded to the second hold-up just before 11 p.m. at Casey’s General Store on La Porte Road. A lone male entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded money. The suspect is described as a black male, about 18 years of age. He was wearing all gray clothing and fled on foot.

The third robbery occurred happened just midnight in the 900 block of West Fifth Street. An employee of Ali's West Side Liquor told officers he was robbed at gun-point after exiting the business. The suspect is described as a skinny black male, about 18 to 19 years of age, who was wearing all gray clothing. After demanding money, the man fled the area on foot.

Waterloo police aren't sure if any or all of the robberies are connected, although the suspect in two of the crimes had a similar description. In each hold-up, the suspect had his face partially covered in an attempt to conceal his identity.

No arrests have been made in any of the robberies and no injuries were reported.

The three robberies that occurred Tuesday night are among seven that have been reported in Waterloo and Cedar Falls in recent days.