Robberies On The Rise

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By Holly Zuluaga

Summary

More robberies in one month than in any other month in recent history. That's the reality for the city of Walla Walla. Action News pulled the numbers and found that robberies are on the rise.

Story Published: Feb 14, 2010 at 10:07 PM PST

WALLA WALLA--More robberies in one month than in any other month in recent history.

That's the reality for the city of Walla Walla.

Action News pulled the numbers and found that robberies are on the rise.

There were four robberies in January alone.

That's more robberies than any other single month in the last two years.

Compare that to 12 robberies in all of 2008 and 14 in all of 2009.

“That is kind of a sharp increase for us,” Officer Tim Bennett said.

It's gotten more dangerous.

Police say a shooting at the PDQ convenience store in January was the first time someone was shot within the city during a robbery in at least 35 years.

The store clerk was shot when he reached for the robber’s gun.

He made off with some cash and hasn't been caught.

“We don't want to have a gunman out there that is actually willing to shoot at a citizen,” Officer Tim Bennett said.

The Walla Walla Police Department tells Action News they've actually gone around to local convenience stores in the Walla Walla area telling them how they can stay safe.

“Don't try to be a here, cooperate fully, be a good witness as opposed to getting yourself hurt,” Officer Tim Bennett said.

Walla Walla Police don't know exactly why they're seeing an increase.

“I know that in at least one of those cases the subject did blame the economy. He had a criminal background, he couldn't get a job and he saw this as being the only way out. Do we normally hear that? No, Officer Tim Bennett said.

Whatever the reason, it has the community on alert, and the cops hoping the robbery spike in January does not show up in other months.