Are payday loan store robberies the new black?

Serial robber hits stores in Illinois, Indiana

Did you hear about the guy who robbed 16 payday loan stores before police caught him? Well I did. Northwest Indiana News says a man was arrested Tuesday in connection with 16 different payday loan store robberies.

The suspect, who is identified as Lewis Gilbert, is 45. He was arrested Monday. Police say they believe Gilbert robbed five stores in Indiana and 11 in Illinois in four months. They estimate he took $30,000.

What is the hold up?

So, clearly there is a problem here if a guy can rob 16 payday loan stores before he gets caught. Obviously, catching payday loan store thieves is not on the top of the police priority list. I guess that leaves payday loan stores to fend for themselves.

Security cameras, silent alarms, making sure there are always multiple people working in the store and signs alerting people to the security system are all ways to help keep businesses safe. I’ve even heard of payday loan stores that keep their doors locked and ask customers for identification before they can enter. It sounds a little extreme, I know, but it works. A payday loan store in Spokane, Washington, was able to avoid a robbery and aid in the arrest of a suspect using that method.

There’s no place like Kansas

Gilbert isn’t the only person suspected of serial robberies involving payday loan stores who was arrested recently. Last week, police in Wichita, Kansas, arrested a 31-year-old man whom they have not identified. Now, they are seeking a second suspect.

The new suspect is Lloyd Preston Adams. Police believe he may have been involved in recent robberies of at least two payday loan businesses. Police also say that the two men could be responsible for the robberies of up to six payday loan stores plus a restaurant and motel. The robberies took place between April 19 and July 28.

The American way

Unfortunately, it doesn’t surprise me that those aren’t the only payday loan store robberies that have been reported lately. It appears to be a nationwide trend, as police in Tempe, Arizona, are also seeking the two men responsible for armed robbery of a payday loan store.

Police say two men walked into a cash advance store Wednesday and demanded cash from the clerk. The men have been described as Hispanic, 5′6″ tall and about 155 pounds. The men were armed, and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was hurt, and police are asking for help locating the suspects.

Wild goose chase

Usually, in cases like this, with such vague descriptions of the suspects and no video footage available, the police never catch the robbers. Like I said before, it’s not exactly their number one priority.

This also emphasizes the point that payday loan stores would be wise to invest in surveillance cameras. Police need all the help they can get when trying to catch thieves.