Mill Creek Shopping Center Targeted In Robbery Spree

Police in the North Sound are investigating a string of armed robberies targeting the same shopping center in Mill Creek.

Some of the robberies have involved a gun; others, a knife. Several businesses in the Thomas Lake Shopping Center have been hit; some of them more than once. The robber or robbers have been bold, as one of the most recent crimes happened in daylight at 10 a.m.

Jai Koo said he remembers every detail about the man who walked into his Dollar Deals Store two weeks ago.

His surveillance cameras captured everything that happened once the man was inside. At first Koo thought it was a customer, but the man pulled a bandanna over the lower part of his face, stepped behind the counter and pulled out a knife.

“He had a knife in his right hand. He came right here and told me to open the register, quickly,” said Koo.

Mill Creek Police said there have been nine robberies in the past few months, with seven of them, including the one at Koo's store, in the Thomas Lake Shopping Center.

Police released a sketch of a suspect, though authorities said they aren't sure if the same man has committed all the robberies.

Employees of neighboring businesses said they are worried and wonder where the robber or robbers will strike next.

“I feel like they live around here somewhere, so they know us, what time we have money, what time they come in and when no cops are around,” said Kim Nguyen, who works at the nearby Great Clips

The robber got away with about $100 when he robbed Koo's store. Koo didn't give up without a fight, and chased the man with a wooden stool.