SCRANTON -- Several police departments in Lackawanna County are looking into a series of armed robberies within the past month, both at businesses and on individual people.
Scranton police say the latest armed robbery happened Monday in the city`s west side.
Brenden Sweet works at the Sunoco convenience mart on South Main Avenue in Scranton. He talked about the night of August 14 when he was robbed at gunpoint.
Scranton police later arrested Christian Cox of Scranton who they say admitted to the robbery. Police say Cox also confessed to robbing a man at gunpoint a week earlier, saying he lost his job and needed money.
“I wasn`t too sure if the gun was real or not so I did what he said and gave him all the money I had,” said Sweet.
Scranton police say the Sunoco is among several businesses hit by armed robberies within the past month. For people living in the neighborhoods where they`ve taken place, they say they`re getting concerned.
A map shows a list of locations since August 6including the Sunoco where police have responded for reports of an armed robbery.
“It`s getting bad, it`s getting real bad. it used to be a good place but now it`s getting bad,” said West Scranton resident Jamie Minor.
Scranton police say early Tuesday morning, a man was robbed at knifepoint outside The Thirsty Camel bar on North Main Avenue in West Scranton.
As for Sweet, he has a message for those committing these crimes.
“Get a job, that`s pretty much what it is,” said Sweet.