HOUSTON — A suspect was recently caught on camera robbing a north Houston food truck with a sawed-off shotgun, according to the Houston Police Department's Robbery Division.
Police said the suspect is responsible for at least 12 armed robberies of food trucks in the north Houston area from Aug. 9 to Aug. 21.
The suspect is described as being about 18 to 24 years old. He wasn't wearing any face covering in the video, providing a clear look at his face. They said he was armed with a black sawed-off shotgun.
If you have any information about the robberies, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.
KHOU 11's Anayeli Ruiz spoke with a food truck worker of one of the businesses that was hit.
Alberto Garcia is a cook at the Norteno Tacos food truck. He said the armed thief demanded he put the truck's cash in a bag.
"Me asuste bien mucho porque tengo dos familias mi hijo," Garcia said.
Translation: "The first thing that crossed his mind were his two children."
The suspect told him he would shoot him if he didn't give him the money. Garcia said he believed the suspect because they shot at another employee before entering the taco truck. Fortunately, the other employee wasn't injured.
The food truck's owner said it's affecting the business and sales are dropping. Customers said their frustrated to hear this is happening in their area.
"I feel like that is really sad because now we can't even come late at night to enjoy tacos with our family," one customer said. "People don’t know what's going to happen to them."
The owner said customers were in line at the time of the robbery, but no one was hurt.
Other robberies
Police believe the same suspect is responsible for food truck robberies at the following locations and dates:
- Aug. 9 - 2800 West Mount Houston Road
- Aug. 10 - 8610 Irvington Boulevard
- Aug. 10 - 8430 Fulton Street
- Aug. 10 - 8930 North Freeway
- Aug. 11 - 7712 West Little York
- Aug. 12 - 4109 Cedar Hill Lane
- Aug. 13 - 609 West Gulf Bank Road
- Aug. 15 - 2800 West Mount Houston Road
- Aug. 17 - 522 East Little York Road
- Aug. 17 - 9550 Airline Drive
- Aug. 19 - 8930 North Freeway
- Aug. 21 - 10798 Shady Lane