Three robberies in three days under investigation in Gaffney
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Bin Chen doesn't ask for much.

The manager of New Golden China Restaurant on Wilkensville Highway in Gaffney simply wants a safe environment for him, his employees and his customers.

On Sunday night, the restaurant Chen manages was robbed at gunpoint for the second time in just three weeks, and the fourth time in the past four years.

No one was hurt in the latest incident as the robbers made off with the restaurant's cash register receipts Sunday.

"I'm happy everybody is safe," said Chen, who moved to the United States in 1997 from an area near Hong Kong. "That seems the most important."

The incident has prompted the restaurant to take extra precautions. It installed additional security cameras and it is taking other steps, Chen said.

One suspect in the restaurant robbery is described as a black male, 5-feet, 10-inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds. He was wearing a black and white plaid jacket and blue jeans.

The second suspect is described as being of similar height and weight, wearing a black jacket with a furtrimmed hood and blue jeans.

Security camera footage shows the first suspect walk in and immediately raise a handgun towards the employees. The second suspect followed a few seconds behind and the men stayed in the restaurant for about two minutes, cleaning out the cash register.

The Sunday night robbery is one of three that occurred between Saturday night and Monday night in Gaffney.

An armed robber also targeted the "Fast n Fresh" store on North Limestone Street on Saturday evening. Video surveillance cameras show a lone gunman walk into the store and head directly to the cash register, trying to beat it open with his hand.

Thinking it was a joke because she knew the robber's face as that of a regular customer, police said a store clerk went up to the robber and argued with him while he was trying to take the cash.

That robber is described as a black male, about 6-feet tall, wearing a black coat with a diamond-shaped pattern.

Gaffney Police posted security camera footage of both robberies on their web site.

Investigators said they already have received numerous tips on both robberies and are actively pursuing them.

A third robbery occurred Monday evening in the parking lot of a title loan company at 1100 W. Floyd Baker Blvd., police said.

During this strongarm robbery, a female employee was approached and grabbed from behind by a man who demanded her money. The woman, who sustained a scratch to her left ear while being held by the robber, dropped a bank deposit bag containing almost $4,700, police said.

The robber then fled on foot on Gaffney Avenue towards Marion Avenue. He is a black male, skinny in build, about 5- feet, 6-inches tall, dressed in a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.