By Matthew Kemeny
Harrisburg, Penn. — Harrisburg police posed as Domino’s delivery workers Wednesday night and nabbed five teenage would-be robbers in the 1900 block of Briggs Street. And they made the arrests in 30 minutes or less.
Police were notified after a Domino’s employee said he believed he was being set up to be robbed Tuesday night as he attempted to make a delivery to a home on that block, city spokesman Matthew Coulter said. The employee said he saw people “lurking in the shadows” as he rolled up in his Domino’s vehicle and took off out of fear, Coulter said.
When a delivery call came from the same number about 10:30 p.m. the next night, two officers -- one dressed in a Domino’s uniform and the other hiding in the back seat -- responded to make the delivery in an unmarked car with a Domino’s placard on top of it, Coulter said.
When they arrived, one of the boys flashed a pellet gun and tried to rob the undercover officer, who then identified himself. The boys ran and were apprehended by the undercover officers and other officers who were there for backup, Coulter said.
Four 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy were arrested in charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. They’re being detained at Schaffner Detention Center.
Although the arrests were made in an unusual fashion, they were anything but cheesy, authorities said. “I don’t think the kids were expecting it by any means,” Coulter said.
Copyright 2008 The Patriot-News