By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
December 17, 2011

The Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department are asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects responsible for robbing two area Rent-A-Center stores.

The first robbery occurred at the Rent-A-Center at 3807 Main Street on Dec. 2 at approximately 11:30 a.m. Two black male suspects entered the store wearing jeans, black coats with hoods, tennis shoes and ski masks. The suspects were described as being in their mid-twenties, approximately 5′ 9″ tall, weighing between 160 to 170 pounds. The two forced employees to give them cash from the register and then fled the scene in an unknown direction. One suspect was carrying a semi-automatic handgun and the other was carrying a small, possibly full-auto “machine gun.”

The second robbery occurred at the Rent-A-Center at 3021 Independence Ave. the next day just as the store was opening at 9 a.m. The suspects were again wearing jeans, black “hoodie” style coats, tennis shoes and black ski masks.

The robbers again forced employees to give them cash from the register then stole two game systems from the back room. Police believe the same suspects were responsible for another attempted robbery at the Rent-A-Center at 5902 Wilson Rd. The store’s doors, however, were locked at the time, so the robbers failed to gain entry to the store. No injuries were reported in either of the hold-ups.

Anyone with information regarding either of these two crimes is urged to contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) or by texting TIP452 and your information to 274637 (CRIMES). All information is anonymous and tipsters can be eligible for up to $1,000 in reward money.