Enid Residents On Edge After String Of Armed Robberies

Residents in Enid said they're living in fear after a string of armed robberies. Authorities said the suspect is on the loose.

Police said the suspect demanded cash from three businesses in less than a week.

Stunned with fear, Enid K-Store clerk Jamie Rex said she couldn't believe what was happening when a man wearing a black ski mask started demanding cash.

"I was more shocked than anything," said Rex, who had worked there for only four months.

"He had asked for the money like three times, and the third time is when he pulled the gun out of his pocket and that's when I knew that this was real."

Rex emptied the register and handed over $545, and then the suspect and a nearby accomplice took off.

This was on Friday, Jan. 9 around 7:20 p.m.

Just five days later, police said the armed suspect was back at it. This time the suspect targeted Enid's OK Store on West Maine Avenue, where surveillance video showed the armed suspect alone demanding money. And when he didn't get any, he left just as the silent panic alarm tipped off officers.

Continuing the robbery spree, just a few minutes later, Enid police said the suspect robbed the Domino's Pizza at gun point, getting away with only $50. The manager said the business does not keep mass amounts of cash behind the register, yet the masked robber took what they had in less than a minute.

The crime had workers on edge and on the lookout.

"It was scary for people here. We will just be extra careful with how we handle cash and customers," said manager Clifton Phang.

It was good advice, as all of the businesses were on alert. K-Store clerk Rachel Stephens said she's thankful she was off the night of the robbery and at a church retreat.

"I was supposed to work that night, I'm really blessed," Stephens said.

But Stephens said she is saddened her coworker Jaime has since quit because she was too shaken up.

"I'm done, no more convenient stores," Rex said.

"I haven't really slept I mean, I sleep a couple hours, but like every noise I hear I wake up."

Police only have a vague description of the suspect. No arrests have been made.

If you have any information, you're asked to call Enid Police at (580) 242-7000.