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Business owners target of armed robberies in Cairo

By Julia Bruck

CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - Business owners in Cairo are on edge after a recent crime spree.

In the last few weeks, several business have been the targets of armed thieves.

"I was doing to some prep for checking out the register, just getting some credit card receipts done up ahead of time before we closed, when I heard a voice from behind me asking him to give up the money," Mack's Restaurant Co-Owner Bobby Martin said.

Martin says he turned around to face a masked gunman.

Martin ended up handing over nearly a $1,000. Co-Owner Shawn Smith says the two suspects apparently jumped the cook when he took out the trash.

"He led them at gun point through the kitchen and one of them held him and one of our waitresses at gun point in the kitchen," Smith Explained.

"The other one came out in the dining room, behind the bar and requested the money," Smith added.

The owners of Mack's Restaurant are not alone. A few weeks earlier, Cairo businessman James Huffman says he was approach by three masked males with guns, as he left his home early one morning.

"They put me in a chair and held me at gun point for over an hour, while two at time searched my house for a safe. They found four pistols and a diamond ring. They took some money," Huffman said.

Tim Brown with the Cairo Police department says thieves also targeted Hong Kong Restaurant. He says a short time later, a suspect was arrested.

The Mayor of Cairo, Judson Childs, says due to the recent robberies the city is taking steps to help business owners so they feel safe in the community.

"I've gone personally to each business to make sure at closing time you call the police department and let us know when you are closing to try to deter people from coming around," Childs said.

Back at Mack's, waitresses work to clean up from the lunch rush. These days the restaurant closes a little earlier. The owners say that is just one of several safety precautions they've been forced to take.

"It's idiots that do stupid things like this that are going to keep businesses away (and) keep development from happening (in Cairo)," Smith said.

Brown said he expects to make more arrests in connection with the robberies in the near future.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call the Cairo Police Department at (618) 734-2131.