CHARLOTTE – The FBI is assisting with the investigation of a spate of robberies and thefts at malls and other businesses in Charlotte and Monroe.
Channel 9 found a court document listing all businesses targeted between May and November.
Court documents show that there were eight related armed robberies in Mecklenburg and Union counties.
Some businesses were raided more than once, and in one robbery, suspects got away with $20,000.
“I thought about what could have happened,” said one witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “That’s why I stopped going.”
The woman said she was one of 10 people inside the Blue Dragon Arcade on South Avenue in May when police said two gunmen entered and ordered everyone to get on the ground.
“Oh, I’m scared,” she said. “I’m very worried about what’s going to happen. I don’t know what they’re going to do. What they’re capable of doing.”
Police believe the men who robbed Blue Dragon also raided an arcade on Valleydale Road, where the suspects tricked their way and claimed to work for Amazon.
One of them was wearing an Amazon delivery suit and carrying an Amazon box, according to the search warrant. When the employee opened the door to the Skill Games arcade, the suspect knocked the employee to the ground and pulled out a large pistol.
Investigators said the shooter stole $8,000 from Skill Games and $20,000 from Blue Dragon.
The woman in Qinglong said that they quarreled for a long time during the robbery.
“He kept repeating himself, they didn’t do what he asked, and he made it look like he was going to shoot them,” the witness said. “So, I had to yell at the man, ‘Open it up,’ so he could get out of here.”
That was the first time the woman went to the playground and she said she would never go back.
“The people who work there, or the managers, or anybody, (they) are not trying to protect us,” she said.
Other businesses named in the arrest warrant are:
- Midway Skill Arcade, West Highway 74, Monroe
- GMS Cyber Center, Patton Avenue, Monroe
- Monroe Barton Avenue Express Mart
- 601 Food Mart, Concord Highway, Monroe
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