Courtesy: Greensboro Police Dept.
Harris Teeter Suspects Greensboro, NC
Greensboro, NC-- We see the pattern and we know the MO, but what we'd like to know is what's coming next. News 2 attempted to get inside the minds of the serial criminals holding up several Harris Teeters.
Police are not saying the Triad and Charlotte cases are connected but when you have a strict pattern of armed robberies; investigators know that the criminals have done their homework.
Ed Cobbler is President of ELC Investigative Services and former detective. Cobbler told News 2's Liz Crawford that it's his job to think like a criminal and he doesn't think we've seen the end of the Harris Teeter robberies.
"They're not going to stop until they get caught but they probably just laid low and then changed locations and we could possibly look for Harris Teeters or other large grocery stores in the state of North Carolina maybe within a two hour distance," said Cobbler.
With ten Harris Teeter holdups in North Carolina, seven here in the Triad, investigators know they're dealing with skilled criminals, possibly looking to push the envelope.
Cobbler added, "They're feeling comfortable and feeling possibly that they're invincible."
However, Cobbler explained that with the adrenaline rush comes an opportunity for investigators. As the criminals get bolder, they tend to make mistakes and Cobbler believes that's when law enforcement can make an arrest.
Another plus for police along with the hefty reward is that with multiple suspects, the word on who these guys are is certain to get out.
"If one person commits a crime, he can hold that secret for a while but in this situation, it's been two or three, and somebody will start talking," added Cobbler.
Cobbler also says that citizens and business owners need to be proactive and aware of their surroundings.
As business owners and citizens, we should put ourselves in the shoes of the criminals, making ourselves less vulnerable.
WFMY News 2