A Verizon store was robbed Thursday morning in Wind Gap and the crime matches several similar crimes in recent months, authorities said.
The robbery was reported at 10:48 a.m., a Northampton County emergency dispatch supervisor said.
An employee of the Gap Diner, which is next door the business at 1001 S. Broadway, said she could see several police cars in the parking lot.
Robbery leads to Easton search
Slate Belt Regional police confirmed the robbery and said two male robbers fled. The investigation is continuing, Chief David Mettin said.
The clerk was tied up in a back room, as happened in other such robberies, he said. No one was hurt, he added.
There isn't a description of the robbers, but a handgun was shown, Mettin said.
Cellphone stores in Lehigh and Northampton counties have been tied to a number of crimes in recent months, including the homicide Nov. 21 of Michael Davis outside his Palmer Township home.
The 25-year-old worked at Verizon at 301 Town Center Blvd. in Forks Township, which was robbed at gunpoint Oct. 29. The store manager was assaulted and abducted Nov. 22 outside his home, also in Palmer. In both Palmer incidents, the assailants were two men.
Then the night of Jan. 5, the AT&T Authorized Retailer at 3859 Nazareth Pike in Bethlehem Township was robbed by two men, one of whom brandished a handgun, according to police. Police after that robbery said they were investigating to see if it was tied to the Forks Township crime.
On Jan. 16, two men armed with handguns and dressed in dark clothing entered the Cellular Connection store about 8:06 p.m. p.m. at 3075 Tilghman St., South Whitehall police said. The men forced employees into an office area and made off with an undetermined amount of merchandise, police said.
They fled to Easton's West Ward but were able to walk away from a silver Hyundai which was parked in the Spruce Street alley.
Authorities have not announced arrests in the Palmer, Forks, Bethlehem Township or Southwest Whitehall incidents.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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