Armed robbers strike local restaurant for third time in two months

A South Granard Street restaurant has been held up at gunpoint for the third time in the last two months, according to a report from Gaffney Police Department.

Two armed robbers wearing pantyhose and bandannas over their faces reportedly entered the Sandwich Castle at 508 S. Granard St. at about 12:15 a.m. Aug. 28 and put guns to the head of two witnesses who were inside the restaurant.

Police said one of the robbers demanded that one of the witnesses get him money while the second robber held the second witness to the floor.

As one of the witnesses began filling a plastic bag with money, another witness exited from the restroom. Police were told the robber trained his gun at the third witness and took her cell phone and a cigarette pouch.

Both robbers then ran away with an estimated $400 to $500 in cash.

Police said a tracking dog was able to follow the robbers' scent to an alley near Wood Street.

Both robbers were wearing dark clothing in addition to the face coverings. One of the robbers had green designs on his dark-colored pants.

The Sandwich Castle previously was robbed on Aug. 2 at about 5:40 a.m. and on July 2 at about 3:45 a.m.

A West Floyd Baker Boulevard convenience store was the target of a break-in on Aug. 27.

Someone smashed the door glass at the convenience store at 901 W. Floyd Baker Boulevard after 8 p.m. Aug. 27 to gain entry. The burglar took an estimated $900 from the store. According to Gaffney Police Department, security camera footage captured an unknown black male wearing a white material over his face, tan pants, a red flannel jacket and gloves. The door damage was estimated at $700.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office reported on Aug. 28 the theft of a trailer from a Youngs Grove Road home in Blacksburg.

According to a police report, someone took a 6-foot by 18-foot tandem axle trailer from a property in the 300 block. The trailer had both rear and side ramps.

A South Petty Street resident reported the theft of food by someone who apparently didn't like vegetables.

According to a report from Gaffney Police Department, someone entered a garage in the 600 block and stole a pack of chicken wings from a freezer sometime between 11 p.m. Aug. 25 and 9 a.m. Aug. 26. A pack of frozen corn, meanwhile, was left on the garage floor.

About $520 in hand tools were stolen from a West Cherokee Street, Blacksburg, garage this week.

Sometime between 10 p.m. Aug. 25 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 26, an unknown person entered Wright's Automotive and took tools and a checkbook, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Police said they couldn't find signs of forced entry.

An East 3rd Street home was burglarized on Aug. 26.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office reported that someone broke the glass out of the front door of the home in the 200 block between 7 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. A DVD player valued at $38 was stolen from the home.

A copper thief or thieves caused more than $1,000 in damage to a Mill Street home, according to Gaffney Police Department.

Police said someone gained entry to the crawl space of a home in the 200 block between July 27 and Aug. 25, stealing about $300 worth of copper wire and causing about $1,000 in damage.

Two dogs were reported stolen from an Anthony Street home.

According to Gaffney Police Department, the owner of the dogs said someone entered her yard in the 100 block between midnight and 4 p.m. on Aug. 27 and took a black and white pit bull and a red dachshund. The dogs were valued at $200.

Two school bus fights were reported to Gaffney Police Department in recent days.

According to one police report, an 11-year-old boy allegedly was assaulted by and unknown older boy while riding the school bus near Richardson and Russell Street on Aug. 27. Police were told the video system on the bus likely captured the incident.

On Aug. 26, two young girls, ages 12 and 13, allegedly engaged in a fight on another school bus. Both young girls were released to their parents following the incident.

-Tim Gulla