Sep. 15--BY F.M. WIGGINS

PETERSBURG -- Police are investigating a late-night robbery that occurred Sunday at the Hardee's on County Drive.

According to police, at 11 p.m. Sunday a black male with a light complexion, wearing a red shirt with a white T-shirt, entered the restaurant.

Witnesses told police that the suspect who was armed with a rifle, was wearing black pants, white and red tennis shoes with the lace missing from one shoe, and a Swiss quartz-style watch with a blue face and silver band.

The suspect reportedly had a teardrop tattoo below his left eye.

After being given an undisclosed amount of money by the employees, the suspect left the restaurant on foot. It's believed the suspect had a vehicle waiting across the street at a car wash.

No one was injured in the robbery.

Police spokeswoman Esther Hyatt said that while she didn't have any statistics available on how often rifles are used in robberies.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, of all firearm-related crimes about 86 percent involved handguns.

Hyatt said police are hopeful that the public may be able to identify the suspect in the surveillance video by some of his physical characteristics.

- F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 3254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.

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